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Tour Rundown: Saki’s rout | From W to Z | Magic for Maja

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3 years ago

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The world’s golfing viators feel their seasons winding down, just as folks in the northern hemisphere sense that summer is coming to a close. This time of year brings not the magical moments that the majors bring. Instead, it feels real, because touring competitiors save and lose their jobs, gain promotions, just as we do. 2022 has been a lightning rod of a year for professional golf. It’s only two-thirds over by calendar standards, but playoffs have arrived and the end is nigh for complete fan focus.

With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to five events that held our gaze on the world’s tours, and congratulate Saki Baba and Monet Chun on reaching the finals of the USGA Women’s Amateur. Baba turned in a timeless performance to defeat the pride of Canada, and win a second USGA title for Japan.

PGA Tour: FedEx Cup Playoffs Round One: FedEx St. Jude goes from W to Z

Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young, past teammates at Wake Forest, have waged a spirited battle to determine which one would earn a PGA Tour title first. This tussle was not reserved for regular tour events. The two have finished top-three in all four majors, and had come up just shy of the champion’s flag. That ended this week, as Zalatoris claimed a first professional win on the top shelf of the world’s tours.

The FedEx Cup playoffs elaborate over three weeks in August. Stop one was in the company’s hometown of Memphis, and Sepp Straka gave a heck of a performance over 75 holes. The Austrian-by-way-of-Georgia was near the lead for the entire event. His opening 64 stood him two back of the leaders, and his Friday 66 brought him closer. He and JJ Spaun played the final round together. Spaun had a day to forget, tumbling 41 spots from the top with a 78. Straka hung tough, and had a putt to win on the 72nd hole. It missed, and he entered a playoff with Zalatoris.

On Will’s side of the drama, his opening 71 gave him ground to make up, and he did so over the next 53 holes. 63, followed by 65 and 66, brought him event with Straka at 15-under par, three clear of third place. The two marched off to a playoff that lasted three holes. Play loosened, as the strain of the week became clear. At the third playoff hole, both hit from the drop zone on the par three 11th after less than stellar tee shots. Zalatoris was able to get up and down for bogey, and that was enough to defeat his overtime opponent.

LPGA/Ladies European Tour: Handa World Invitational is magic for Maja

One of those Why Don’t We Do This More Often events took place in Northern Ireland this week, at a castle, no less. The LPGA and Ladies European tours joined together to host an event over the same course as a simultaneous, DP World Tour event. It may have been a crowded affair, but it was interesting and exciting with room to spare.

Amanda Doherty of the USA played stellar golf over the first two days, and surged into the lead at 134. Her weekend rounds could only match par each day, and the young American dropped away from the lead, into a tie for 8th position with compatriot Lauren Stephenson.

Surging up the charts over the final 36 was Sweden’s Maja Stark. Lurking five behind Doherty at the midway mark, Stark posted 69 on saturday to move within two shots. On Sunday, Stark went into orbit, racing past all challengers with a sublime 63. Ten birdies over the par-73 course at Galgorm Castle sent Magic Maja five shots clear of runner-up Alisen Corpuz of the USA. The victory was Stark’s fifth on the European circuit, but first with LPGA sanctioning.

DP World Tour: Handa World Invitational a battle of two Scotsmen

The top of the board had full occupancy as day four began at the Handa World Invitational. American John Catlin was among the leaders, but he could not keep pace and slipped to a tie for 13th with a last-day 73. What ensued, was a battle of two Scots, with Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme waging a contest for bragging rights and baubles.

To be sure, there were others involved. Spain’s Borja Virto closed with 68 to tie for second position, three behind the leader. Italy’s Renato Paratore posted 64 on day four, to tie for fourth with two others. Ferguson and Syme caught our attention, and not unearned  was it. Ferguson’s week began with a two-eagle round of 61, and as all aficionados know, keeping the lead over four days is not often an achievable task. His stumble came on Friday, with 70, but he followed with 68-69 into the weekend.

The chore for Syme was to chase the sprinter down. He was one of two golfers to post four rounds in the 60s this week, but for most of the day, he was not up to the task of catching the leader. Syme’s first ten holes were a struggle, with bogeys (three) outnumbering birdies (two). It was only the final quartet of holes (where he played three-under par) that Syme was able to make Ferguson concentrate a bit more.

The victory was Ferguson’s second of the year and career, and came five months after his initial win in Qatar.

Korn Ferry Tour: Pinnacle Bank is second of season for Shelton

Remember what we said about the Real quotient of late-season golf? It was evident on the Korn Ferry Tour this week. The PBC was the final, pre-playoffs event on the schedule, and that meant that the top 25 golfers on the money list come Sunday evening, would depart for the PGA Tour in a few months. Kevin Roy goes to the show for the first time in his journey, and Michael Kim returns after a six-spot climb in Nebraska. The heartbreak for Brandon Harkins and Ryan McCormick, who each came up a few thousand dollars shy of glory, is eased by a second opportunity to ascend, during the three-week playoff series.

Back to the heartland of America. Shelton was out in 31 on Sunday, to thrust his name into contention for win number two in 2022. Attempting to chase him down were the aforementioned Kim, Ben Taylor of England, and a bask of other crocodiles. It was Taylor who would come closest to an overtake, His Saturday 62 was the week’s low round, but his Sunday back nine harvested just one birdie. In the end, he would finish at 16-under par, in solo second.

Shelton was up to the task. A toe-stub bogey at ten was followed by birdies at 12 and 15. The later pushed Shelton to 17-under par, and he would navigate his way to port in even par, to secure a slim, one-shot win over Taylor.

PGA Tour Champions: Boeing Classic is charming third of 2022 for Jiménez

Billy Andrade was recognized recently with the 2022 Payne Stewart award for charitable work. On Sunday in Washington, he faced a challenge for a different sort of prize. The Rhode Island native was matched with Spain’s sartorial Miguel Ángel Jiménez over the final 18 holes at Snoqualmie. Each stood at 134, but only one would lift the champion’s bounty.

Unfortunately for Andrade, this day would not be his. birdies were offset by bogeys, and he dropped two slots, into a tie for third place. Jiménez fared much better. His five-under 67 was enough to hold off a charging David McKenzie of Australia. The later scribbled six birdies and twelve pars on his final-round scorecard, but his 66 was only enough to earn solo second. The day belonged to the Canarian, who doubtless celebrated his third win of the season with a fine cigar and a nice glass of Spanish Rioja.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

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3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 29, 2025

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GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

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BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 28, 2025

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Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

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WITB

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