Maguire in the pack again in Thailand as Tavatanakit goes back to back
Leona Maguire hits her tee shot on the sixth hole during the third round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on Saturday, June 24, 2023 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Leona Maguire finished in the pack for the second week running as Patty Tavatanakit made it back-to-back wins with victory in the LPGA’s Honda LPGA Thailand.
After finishing tied for 31st in the Armaco Saudi Ladies International on the LET, the Co Cavan star closed with a level par 72 to finish tied 31st again on eight-under.
She was 13 strokes adrift of the Thai star, who followed her seven-shot win in Saudi Arabia with a one-stroke victory on home soil.
A five under 67 gave Tavatanakit her first LPGA win since the 2021 ANA Inspiration by the minimum from Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, who shot 63, on 21-under.
"It's funny, yesterday I felt a little bit more nervous,” Tavatanakit said. “Today, I just had the sense of inner peace that I could do it. I was just foot on the gas and just tried to go get it.
"I'm just really just proud of myself. I just fought really hard and I just see that I can make putts under pressure."
Seeking a third successive win in this week’s HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore, she added: “There is a lot to learn still, and I'm still open to learn next week with the position that I'm in going into next week.
“I love Singapore. I always enjoy that course. Again, I just want to go and have fun. Maybe a little bit less pressure because I'm not playing in front of home crowds after a win the previous week.”
It was also a positive weekend for Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh on the Ladies European Tour as she finished tied 24th in the Lalla Meyrem Cup at Royal Dar Es Salam on Saturday.
The former Wake Forest star closed with a one over 74 to finish on one-under, 12 shots behind winner Brontë Law to sit seventh in the Rookie of the Year standings.
Olivia Mehaffey propped up the field in 62nd on nine-over after a closing 78.
In Nairobi, the Netherlands’ Darius van Driel (34) clinched his maiden DP World Tour win when he closed with a four-under 67 to clinch a wire-to-wire win in the Magical Kenya Open by two shots from England’s Joe Dean and Spain’s Nacho Elvira on 14-under.
“It means a lot,” said Van Driel, who lost his card last year before winning it back at the Qualifying School.
“I never thought it would hit that hard, but it’s a dream come true.”
In South Africa, Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell finished fifth as the Challenge Tour’s weather-delayed NMB Championship was reduced to 54 holes at Humewood in Port Elizabeth.
The former Walker Cup star and DP World Tour winner shot a one-under 71 to finish on 14-under, four shots behind Sweden’s Björn Åkesson, who completed a sensational return to professional golf by securing a maiden Challenge Tour victory.
Åkesson posted a four-under 68 to win by one shot from two-time Challenge Tour winner Lee Slattery at Muthaiga Golf Club.
Åkesson (35) retired in 2017 after losing his DP World Tour playing rights and falling out of love with the game.
However, he returned to the Challenge Tour this year after a stellar 2023, which saw him earn promotion by topping the Nordic Golf League Order of Merit.
“It feels amazing right now,” he said. “This win has given me so much confidence and belief in my golf game after not playing at this level for such a long time.
“I lost my DP World Tour card in 2016 and I wasn’t enjoying my golf anymore.
“I decided to quit and go into coaching for a few years and after that, I felt like I wanted to try and compete again.”
Gary Hurley and Dermot McElroy shot 70s to finish tied 36th on six-under.
On the PGA Tour, Padraig Harrington’s slim title hopes evaporated when he carded a one-over 72 in round three to go into the final round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta tied for 57th on three-under.
He was 16 shots behind American Jake Knapp, whose eight-under 63 gave him a four-shot lead over Finland’s Sami Valimaki on 19-under.
