Lexington native Lauren Stephenson makes cut at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

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Lexington native and former University of Alabama golfer Lauren Stephenson watches her shot on the famed par 3, fourth hole during the third round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.

Photo | Kevin Allen/Impact Images

Lauren Stephenson walks up to her putt on 18th hole in front of famed Baltusrol Golf Club during Saturday's third round of KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Springfield, New Jersey.

Photo | Lou Monaco

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Playing in a major championship is energizing, but making the cut at a major championship is special. Lexington native and former University of Alabama golfer Lauren Stephenson did just that on June 23.

Stephenson shot two-over-par 73 during Sunday’s final round (75-69-75-73--292) of the 69th edition of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey to finish in a three-way tie with Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura and 2019 KPMG champion Hannah Green for 68th place. The top 70 finish earned her $19,644 in winnings for the event.
After shooting a four-over-par 75 in the first round under cool and breezy conditions on June 22, a good round was needed in the second round on June 23 in order to make the weekend.

Stephenson recorded seven birdies on the day, including four on the back nine highlighted by a birdie on the par 5, 498-yard 18th hole. She had recorded three straight bogeys on Baltusrol’s last two par 5 holes (17 and 18) dating back to June 22. The birdie on 18 in round two enabled Stephenson to post a 2-under-par 69 to finish 2-over-par for the tournament, which put her safely in for the weekend.

Playing in her 45th tournament of her professional career (10th this year), this season Stephenson has made the cut in six, including this week for her second in her last four. Entering the final round, Stephenson was listed No. 204 on the latest weekly Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Ironically, her best finish of the year was also in the Garden State, finishing in a tie for 15th at six-under-par at the three-round ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Bay Course in Galloway.

Stephenson, who has finished in 60th place or more in four of her last six tournaments, will celebrate her 26th birthday on July 13.

The LPGA will take a week off prior to the third major of the season, the U.S. Women’s Open at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, July 6-9.