Lee-Anne Pace in great shape for LPGA Champs

The South African vaulted into the top 10 at the LPGA Tour event with a four under 67 on Saturday.

“I hit a lot of good drives and iron shots and made some really good putts,” Pace said.

“My friend from the Ladies European Tour, Anne-Lise Caudal, came for a visit but ended up doing emergency bag duty and it was great to have her company on the course.”

Pace offset three bogeys with two birdies in a final round 72 to tie for 12th on five-under-par 279.

Although she made less than half of her pay day for a joint fourth finish at the Marathon Classic last month, the US22,993 (approx. R245,000) kitty took Pace’s earnings for the season over the US140,000 (approx. R1.5 million) mark.

The Pearl Valley golfer climbed to 55th in the Race to CME Globe and moved to 51st on the LPGA Official Money list in her 10 starts.

After missing the cut at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the regular starts in the US have benefited Pace’s game.

The reigning Investec Cup for Ladies champion recorded a career-best 43rd place finish in the US Women’s Open Championship and a share of 29th in the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Fellow South African professionals Ashleigh Simon and Paula Reto would also join the Major action at the Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford.

Simon missed the cut in Michigan, but Reto carded rounds of 72, 71, 71 and 73 to tie for 58th on three over 287.

– Sapa