LPGA LOCKS TALK REALIZING THE DREAM

Three LPGA locks - No. 1 Benyapa Niphatsophon (Bangkok, Thailand), No. 3 Hannah Green (Perth, Australia) and No. 5 Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington) - were on the range at LPGA International on Tuesday preparing for their final event on the Epson Tour.

Niphatsophon, who has five second place finishes this year, is excited for a return to the LPGA in 2018. She played on the LPGA in 2016 through her finish at the 2015 LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

“I’m happy to have earned my LPGA card back, it was a good year,” said Niphatsophon, who had 11 total top 10’s. “I’m looking forward to getting back out on the LPGA. I want to thank my parents, the Epson Tour for making all the events possible and the rules officials.”

Green, who won last week, grew up watching the LPGA on television in Australia and now looks forward to playing on television weekly.

“The last few weeks, I’ve sealed the deal so the build up to Sunday will be pretty cool,” said Green, who has three wins this season. “It’s pretty cool to think that I will be on the LPGA next year as I watch the Tour on television and now I’ll be playing. This year on Epson (Tour) has been a big learning experience for my golf game and myself. It has been a good place to start. I’m kind of glad I had to detour to go through Epson to get to LPGA.”

Lee, who appeared on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive on Tuesday, almost quit golf last year and is now achieving a dream.

“The fact that I was able to prove to myself that I was able to get the job done is great,” said Lee. “After last year, I was questioning whether I wanted to keep playing golf. It was almost to the point where this was going to be my last hurrah.”

Lee started slow this season with no top 10’s in her first seven events, but has recorded two wins since her father, Brian, became her caddy.

“Sometimes when you say you have a last hurrah, it comes out better than expected,” said Lee. “This is definitely a dream come true.”

KENDALL DYE WANTS ‘BEST FOUR ROUNDS OF YEAR’

Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma), No. 13 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, needs a big finish in order to earn her LPGA Tour card this week.

“I like where my game is at, I love where my head is at and winning the golf tournament is sometimes out of your control,” said Dye, who needs to finish at least third to have any chance at an LPGA card. “I would just love to have the best four rounds of my year and other than that there is nothing else in my control.”

Like most in the field, Dye has played the Jones Course many times over the years.

“There are new greens here, but I feel like I know the golf course well,” said Dye, who was charting greens during a practice round on Tuesday. “I think I’m peaking at the right time and I’m just going to have fun and try to go get a win.”

It would be her second win this season and third of her career. A win would almost certainly secure a return to the LPGA for Dye.

Is she stressed?

“No, it’s just golf, not life or death,” said Dye. “It is my career and of course the goal is to get a card, but there are worse things going on in this world. I’m just grateful to have a chance.”

LPGA Locks Talk Realizing the Dream and More from the Epson Tour Championship

Related Articles