The Jutanugarn sisters won the Dow Great Lakes Invitational team event in Michigan yesterday taking home US$276,538 each.

 

Defending champions Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura from Pattaya came in second and Thai Pajaree Anannarukarn and Aditi Ashok (Spice Girls) finished in a tie for third.

 

It is very unusual to find some many Thai golfers at the top of the leader board, and with these wins they will all advance up the LPGA money list.

 

Team M & M

 

Team M&M for Mo and May, family nicknames by which they are commonly known, began the day at 13-under and in a crowd two shots off the lead held jointly by the defending champions, Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura, and Aditi Ashok and another Thai, Pajaree Anannarukarn.

 

Not only were the Jutanugarns not in the final game, but they also were not in the penultimate or antepenultimate grouping. 

 

So, starting the day two shots off the lead, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn knew an impressive day of best ball was needed to come away with the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational title at Midland Country Club.

 

That is just what the sister duo did. Team M&M finished at -24 overall after recording a 59 on Saturday to earn the victory in the second edition of the official team event.

 

“We had a pretty good momentum at the start. It is just more like supporting, just I said over and over again, and of course I had a great support from my sister this week. No matter what, like she probably hit a few trees out there, but she still makes a lot of birdies for me, so I forgive her,” joked Moriya. “We very enjoy it.”

 

The Jutanugarns also posted a 59 on Thursday, the first day of the fourball format. They are the only team to shoot sub-60 in this year’s tournament.

 

With the win, Moriya earns her second LPGA Tour title and first in 1,182 days.

 

Ariya has now won for the second time in eight starts and is the second player with multiple wins in 2021, joining World No. 1 Nelly Korda.

 

Ariya, who now has a total of 12 wins on Tour, said this week in Midland, Mich. may rank above her major championship victories.

 

“It's a tough one. I would say going to be the top one because like every tournament we spend, she is always with me, and this time even more special because we win together. So far, this one the best one, yep.”

 

Another Thai was Second

 

Defending champions Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura from Pattaya put up a final-day fight after sharing the 54-hole lead, finishing in solo second at -21 after recording a 6-under 64. The team combined for seven birdies and just one bogey.

 

The partnership of major champion A Lim Kim and 2020/21 Tour rookie Yealimi Noh (Team Giant Lims) along with Thai Pajaree Anannarukarn and Aditi Ashok (Spice Girls) finished in a tie for third at -19.

 

With the holding spots for The Amundi Evian Championship released following the Jutanugarn win, Ashok officially became exempt into the championship next week, her fourth appearance in the major.

 

2021 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Yuka Saso and Tour winner Minjee Lee finished in fifth at -18 after posting an 8-under 62. Four teams finished in a tie for sixth at -17, with Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome (Team Killer Beez) rounding out the top of the leaderboard in 10th at -16.

 

Jutanugarns were playing for Grace Godfrey

 

This week at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Ariya Jutanugarn had Morgan Pressel’s veteran caddie on the bag, Barry Cesarz.

 

Her usual caddie, Pete Godfrey, was in Dallas, Texas with wife and Tour player Jane Park and their daughter Grace.

Ten-month-old Grace has been hospitalized since July 2nd with undiagnosed seizures and brain swelling, and as the sisters Ariya and Moriya fought hard on the course, they also played with little Grace in their hearts.

 

“I’ve been talking to Pete like every night. He has to get through a lot of things. Yeah, baby get better, but we still continue like praying for her. He gives me the best support. He never shows me like his sadness. At the same time, I just want to come out and play well for him, also, because I do not want him to worry about me,” said Ariya. “We did a good job. We done it. Just please like continue praying for Gracie.”

 

Ariya said she and Moriya were constantly thinking of Pete, but knew he was giving his usual support from afar.

 

“We keep telling him like we miss him because like last time when we here, he caddied for me and we had so much fun. We wish he here with us,” said Ariya.

 

 “He always put a smile on his face to make us happy, and he's always like give us the best support, and he keep telling us, ‘you got this, go win for Gracie,’ and we did.”

 

 

 

 

Some really good female players around nowadays. Always 3 or 4 of them in the top 50 in most LPGA ,womens tournaments in general.

Congratulations to all the winners. It was a pleasure to watch the tournament on TV. Very entertaining.

Geezer

That's great!  I'm glad for them.  Put that 8.5 million Baht prize money in the bank.