Israeli golfer Laetitia Beck registered another landmark in her career after making the cut at an LPGA major for the first time.
By ALLON SINAIISRAELI GOLFER Laetitia Beck(photo credit: REUTERS)
The 26-year-old completed her participation at the ANA Inspiration on Sunday night in Rancho Mirage, California, scoring a 75 in the fourth and final round to finish at 3-over par 291, tied for 66th as of press time.Israel’s first and only LPGA player got the season off to an excellent start by ending the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in 10th place and made the cut in three of four events entering the first major of the season.Beck, who represented Israel at the Rio Olympics finishing tied for 31st place, made the cut in only six of 20 LPGA tournaments in 2017.Swede Pernilla Lindberg entered the fourth round three shots clear, while South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun suffered a shocking back nine collapse in the third round.The third round began with Lindberg, who has never won an LPGA event, and US Women’s Open champion Park sharing the lead three shots clear but ended with the rock steady Swede carding a two-under 70 for a 54-hole record total of 14-under.American Amy Olson carded a four-under 68 to jump into solo second and the final pairing on Sunday, while Park fell back into a pack of six golfers, including compatriot Park Inbee, at 10-under and four off the pace.“I felt comfortable out there,” said Lindberg, who has never held the 54-hole lead or won a tournament on any professional tour. “I’ve played a lot of golf in my life and I kind of feel like the pieces are coming together and just letting it happen.”After storming through the turn with three straight birdies on nine, 10 and 11, Park looked poised to run away with it, surging to a twoshot lead, but instead an ugly back nine saw her stumble to a two-over 74.Park had carded just two bogeys through the opening two rounds but had collected three more through 13 holes on Saturday.But worse was to come for the Korean as she suffered a double bogey at the par four 15th and dropped another shot at 16 to fall further behind the leader.
Lindberg got her day off to the best possible start with a birdie on her opening hole but the Swede was unable to build any momentum, taking a bogey at five before getting the shot back at eight.Reuters contributed to this report.
