TWO-PUTT BIRDIE ON FIRST EXTRA HOLE SEALS SEVENTH CAREER LPGA TITLE
January 29, 2017, Paradise Island, Bahamas – Brittany Lincicome, who had struggled in playoffs throughout her career, birdied the first extra hole on Sunday at the Ocean Club Golf Course and defeated fellow American Lexi Thompson to win the $1.4 million Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Lincicome two-putted from 20 feet at the par-5 18th hole and then watched as Thompson missed a tying birdie try from 12 feet. It was Lincicome’s seventh LPGA victory and she won for just the third time in 11 career playoffs. Thompson, who held a share of the 54-hole lead with Stacy Lewis, lost in her first playoff appearance.
The win was worth $210,000 and 500 CME Globe points for Lincicome, whose last victory was the 2015 ANA Inspiration. Lincicome emerged from a four-player battle with fellow Americans Thompson, Lewis and Gerina Piller. Each had at least a share of the lead at one point Sunday.
“It was pretty incredible,” said Lincicome, 31, of Seminole, Fla., who had gone 44 starts since her last victory at the 2015 ANA Inspiration. “Just the leaderboard all week has been amazing. Obviously, a lot of Americans up at the top, friends of mine, so to come down to the final stretch, I played with Lexi yesterday, and it was an awesome day. We had so much fun, and to obviously have the playoff today is a bummer, but it’s just incredible.
“This feels so great, because it’s been such a long time since I won. I was wondering when I would win again,” Lincicome added. “I just needed to get of my own way and just play golf and have fun and enjoy it, like I did today.”
Lincicome, who trailed by two entering the final round after holding the first- and second-round lead, closed with a 5-under 68 at the Ocean Club to finish at 26-under 266, a tournament record, and one stroke shy of the LPGA record in relation to par. She birdied the reachable 18th hole in regulation for the clubhouse lead, and the long-hitting Thompson only managed a par as rain and high winds whipped up in the final hour after three days of calm conditions.
“I played well all week, and my putter definitely saved me, and I made a lot of birdies out there, just a lot of positives to take from the week,” Thompson said. “Brittany played amazing, amongst a lot of other players out there and it just got tough out there today, especially with three or four holes to go. That’s the hard stretch.”
Thompson closed with a 70. Lewis, who was runner-up a year ago at the Ocean Club, was one stroke back at 267, undone by a triple bogey at the 14th hole.
Lewis, whose last victory came at the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, was still tied for a share of the lead until her travails at 14. Her second shot caromed off a palm tree and the cart path into shrubs, and in her attempt to escape, her next bounced off the curb of the cart path into high grass. After a penalty drop for an unplayable lie, her approach ended up short of the green and she got up and down for a 7.
“There’s not much really I could have done better other than hit a better shot from the second shot,” Lewis, who birdied two of her last five holes for a 71, said of her struggles at 14. “Other than that, I was telling Travis [Wilson, her caddie], we made 30‑something birdies this week and playing some good golf, so I’m pretty happy with it.”
Piller, still seeking her first LPGA title, shot 71 for fourth place.
Lincicome, Lewis and Piller all are Pure Silk ambassadors.
Nelly Korda, making her debut as an LPGA member, tied for fifth with Pornanong Phatlum. Each closed with a 67.
After a slow start, defending champion Hyo Joo Kim was 16 under over her last 54 holes and ended up tied for ninth at 274.
IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE with BRITTANY LINCICOME
Ocean Club Golf Course
Paradise Island, Bahamas
January 29, 2017
Hometown/Resides – St. Petersburg, Florida/Seminole, Florida
Birthdate – September 19, 1985– currently 31 years 4 months 10 days
Qualified for LPGA Tour – Tied for 20th at the 2004 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament
Turned Professional – December 2004
VICTORIES
LPGA: 7th career victory
PREVIOUS WINS: 2006 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, 2007 Ginn Open, 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic, 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open, 2015 ANA Inspiration
RACE TO THE CME GLOBE
Earns 500 points toward the Race to the CME Globe standings to take the early lead
ROLEX RANKINGS
With her victory, Brittany is projected to jump from No. 48 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to No. 34
ROLEX PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Earns 30 points in the Rolex Player of the Year race and currently ranks first in race
MONEY
CAREER: With a $210,000 first-place check, Brittany now has $7,787,054 in career earnings. She moves up one spot on the LPGA’s Career Money List and surpasses Betsy King for 22nd place
SEASON: Brittany has earned $210,000 in 2017 and currently ranks first on the Official Money List
OF NOTE
• Made 44 starts in between her last two wins (last win at 2015 ANA Inspiration)
• Is the first American to win in the last 14 events
TOURNAMENT SPECIFIC
Past Results at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic:
2016: T8
2015: 4th
2014: T13
2013: MC
For more tournament information, contact the Tournament Office at +1 242 677 6470 or visit www.puresilkbahamasclassic.com.
Photo Credits: Gabe Roux
About Pure Silk
Pure Silk is the “Official Rich & Luxurious Shave Cream of the LPGA” and sponsors a roster of talented professional golfers on the LPGA Tour. Pure Silk moisturizing shave creams contain ingredients that provide a close, long-lasting shave for legs that look and feel like Pure Silk! The rich lather is available in seven aloe-infused, deliciously scented varieties, and provides the smoothest, most touchable skin without irritation. Pure Silk is available at mass merchandise, grocery and drugstores nationwide. For more information, visit www.Pure-Silk.com, www.Facebook.com/PureSilkShaveCream or follow us on Twitter via www.Twitter.com/PureSilkShave.
About the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world’s best golf, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with pre-clearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar at par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To purchase one-of-a-kind items from The Bahamas, visit www.eshopbahamas.com.
About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing 28 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
About Global Golf Management
Global Golf Management is a worldwide sports event management company. With headquarters in Chicago, GGM has successfully staged more than 700 events on five continents since its inception in 1989. GGM specializes in professional golf tournament production but also handles corporate outings and other golf-related event ventures. For more information, visit www.GlobalGolfManagement.com or www.twitter.com/GlobalGolfMgmt.
Media contacts:
Dave Shedloski, Media Official, Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic Shedloski@nullgmail.com +1 740-501-2265
Mike Harmon, Global Golf Management, mike@nullglobalgolfmanagement.com; +1 205-281-6704
###