Haeran Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn
shake off major doldrums and have solid start on LPGA in Utah
[May 02, 2025]
IVINS, Utah (AP) — Haeran Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn didn't
waste time moving on from the disappointment of the first LPGA major
behind them, both opening with bogey-free rounds Thursday for an
ideal start in the inaugural Black Desert Championship.
Ryu missed only one fairway, one green and took 27 putts in her
round of 9-under 63, giving her a one-shot lead over Jutanugarn and
Wei-Ling Hsu in the LPGA's return to Utah for the first time in just
over 60 years.
Ryu shared the 54-hole lead last week in the Chevron Championship
when nothing went right for her the final round. Even with an eagle
on the final hole, she shot 76 and missed the playoff by two shots.
“I'm not change something from my mind, because last week it was
tough golf course and this week it's tough, too,” Ryu said. “Just
thinking more accuracy for my shot, and I think same as last week.”
Jutanugarn had a rougher finish. She needed par on the last hole to
win when the Thai stubbed a chip behind the green and wound up
making bogey. In the five-player playoff, Jutanugarn lipped out on a
7-foot birdie putt as Mao Saigo won.
“I would say when I got here I felt like the course is really tough
because like it’s kind of new. It’s different, really unique, really
beautiful,” Jutanugarn said. “But of course last week I didn’t
finish the way I want, but it’s so many thing going on — like good
things — and I just want to carry on from that and keep working as
hard as I can.”
Jutanugarn, a former No. 1 player in women's golf, has gone four
years without winning.
Saigo was 2 over through four holes and then steadied herself by
playing bogey-free the rest of the way with four birdies to salvage
a 70. She was among the late starters at Black Desert, a Tom
Weiskopf design carved from a massive field of black lava amid red
rock mountains, some 30 miles from Zion National Park.
It is the only golf course that hosts an official PGA Tour and LPGA
Tour event. Black Desert hosted a PGA Tour event last fall.
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Haeran Ryu, of South Korea, celebrates her shot on the 18th green
during a playoff round of the Chevron Championship LPGA golf
tournament Sunday, April 27, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP
Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lucy Li birdied her last two holes for a 64 and was
part of a six-way tie for fourth that included Carlota Ciganda.
Celine Boutier was among the group at 65.
“It's an amazing place. I’ve really enjoyed my past few days here.
It’s beautiful. It was kind of just the focus on refreshing and
recharging after the major last week,” Henseleit said.
The scoring was low without much wind and relatively soft
conditions, with nearly 60% of the 144-player field breaking par.
Henseleit said it was more about picking targets and being
aggressive. Even so, there is enough rock framing the fairways to
make targets appear smaller than they are. And it doesn't take much
to get in trouble.
“I would say this course can be really stressful because you kind of
have to plan everything, every shot — tee shot, second shot, where
to finish the ball,” Jutanugarn said. “I'm very lucky this morning —
no wind, so got a bit easier to finish the ball where I want to
finish.”
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