Post by bullfinch on Jul 15, 2024 11:09:35 GMT
I'm back home in the UK and reality bites with work now getting in the way so I better recap on Round 4 yesterday at Evian.
It was Sunday and the usual patisserie wasn't open in town so we arrived at the course in need of refreshment. It was pink day at Evian and we got our free pink shades which I promptly put in my hat as I wear prescription glasses. A quick coffee and criossant and we were ready to walk! We planned to stay at the course until 4pm so was unsure whether following the final group would be sensible. Instead we opted for the Georgia Hall (well I am English!), Minjee Lee and Iwai group. Shannon Tan was also out walking the course as a spectator with us which was good to see. She seemed to be cheering on Georgia. Georgia made her usual slow start with bogey, bogey and of the 3 players Iwai was holding her own which pleased her watching Japanese fans. You could then sense with Minjee she was getting frustrated as nothing was dropping for her on the greens. We followed them until hole 5 and then required a longer refreshment stop for a nice ham and cheese baguette. We picked them up again on hole 8 and Minjee was still not happy. Iwai made a great eagle on 9 and then a birdie on the next so we wondered if she was on a charge but alas no. Minjee proceeded to leak bogeys on three holes in a row so things were looking bad for her. Georgia improved and drove the par 5 15 in two. At that time there was big cheer over on neighbouring 16 and we could see Peiyun Chien had got a hole in one - shame there was no second Porsche on offer! Georgia then got her eagle which was great for her. We followed them through to the finish and I got my photo with Georgia - we had both got the memo about dark blue/black top and tan coloured skirt/shorts.
I then flitted between holes 15, 18 and the recorders hut. Hae Ran had finished with a 65 and I was able to get a photo with her. She was very nice but probably a little puzzled as to how an English guy knew her name and wanted a photo! Around this time Furue was two shots back with Kyriacou and Coughlin out in front. We got over to the green on 15 and I was standing right behind Furue as she made a great birdie putt. You could sense she was on a charge. More cheers went up as she birdied 16. At this time Patty had finished at 18 and was on -17 and in a share for the lead. I was waiting patiently with the fans by the recorders hut for a photo but Tom Abbott whisked her away for an interview first. She then raced past us and had no time for photos or autographs as she headed to the practice green.
The final group were now on 18 and Kyriacou hooked her drive left while Furue was just off the fairway. She then hit a magnificent 2nd shot into the green which only just got over the lake but meant she had an eagle to win. By now we were by the large screens near the entrance as it was almost 4pm but could hear the cheers as she promptly made the putt and was crowned champion! She was a worthy winner.
We headed back to our hotel for a quick shower, change and check out and down in the foyer were the NBC gang of Grant, Morgan and Tom also doing the same with a few others. Then it was on to Geneva airport and in the BA lounge I got chatting to a couple of caddies who are on the bags of Maya Stark and Channette Wannasen. I asked them about hole 2 and how they work out the yardage. This is the crazy par 3 which seems to drop around 150 yards. They said it plays at least 30 yards shorter but Maya's caddie says he just leaves her to it on this hole as he can never win! They were having one day back in England before heading out to the US for the next LPGA event.
I finally got into bed just before midnight. What a great 4 days it was.
It was Sunday and the usual patisserie wasn't open in town so we arrived at the course in need of refreshment. It was pink day at Evian and we got our free pink shades which I promptly put in my hat as I wear prescription glasses. A quick coffee and criossant and we were ready to walk! We planned to stay at the course until 4pm so was unsure whether following the final group would be sensible. Instead we opted for the Georgia Hall (well I am English!), Minjee Lee and Iwai group. Shannon Tan was also out walking the course as a spectator with us which was good to see. She seemed to be cheering on Georgia. Georgia made her usual slow start with bogey, bogey and of the 3 players Iwai was holding her own which pleased her watching Japanese fans. You could then sense with Minjee she was getting frustrated as nothing was dropping for her on the greens. We followed them until hole 5 and then required a longer refreshment stop for a nice ham and cheese baguette. We picked them up again on hole 8 and Minjee was still not happy. Iwai made a great eagle on 9 and then a birdie on the next so we wondered if she was on a charge but alas no. Minjee proceeded to leak bogeys on three holes in a row so things were looking bad for her. Georgia improved and drove the par 5 15 in two. At that time there was big cheer over on neighbouring 16 and we could see Peiyun Chien had got a hole in one - shame there was no second Porsche on offer! Georgia then got her eagle which was great for her. We followed them through to the finish and I got my photo with Georgia - we had both got the memo about dark blue/black top and tan coloured skirt/shorts.
I then flitted between holes 15, 18 and the recorders hut. Hae Ran had finished with a 65 and I was able to get a photo with her. She was very nice but probably a little puzzled as to how an English guy knew her name and wanted a photo! Around this time Furue was two shots back with Kyriacou and Coughlin out in front. We got over to the green on 15 and I was standing right behind Furue as she made a great birdie putt. You could sense she was on a charge. More cheers went up as she birdied 16. At this time Patty had finished at 18 and was on -17 and in a share for the lead. I was waiting patiently with the fans by the recorders hut for a photo but Tom Abbott whisked her away for an interview first. She then raced past us and had no time for photos or autographs as she headed to the practice green.
The final group were now on 18 and Kyriacou hooked her drive left while Furue was just off the fairway. She then hit a magnificent 2nd shot into the green which only just got over the lake but meant she had an eagle to win. By now we were by the large screens near the entrance as it was almost 4pm but could hear the cheers as she promptly made the putt and was crowned champion! She was a worthy winner.
We headed back to our hotel for a quick shower, change and check out and down in the foyer were the NBC gang of Grant, Morgan and Tom also doing the same with a few others. Then it was on to Geneva airport and in the BA lounge I got chatting to a couple of caddies who are on the bags of Maya Stark and Channette Wannasen. I asked them about hole 2 and how they work out the yardage. This is the crazy par 3 which seems to drop around 150 yards. They said it plays at least 30 yards shorter but Maya's caddie says he just leaves her to it on this hole as he can never win! They were having one day back in England before heading out to the US for the next LPGA event.
I finally got into bed just before midnight. What a great 4 days it was.
