PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Leta Lindley set a US Senior Women’s Open championship record with a 64 on the final day Sunday to win by two shots at nine under at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
“There's no words,” Lindley said. “I've been dreaming about this day for so long, three years now before I turned 50, and I've imagined myself hoisting this trophy and winning this championship, and I dared to dream big.”
“It's just so satisfying to stand here now as your champion.”
Kaori Yamamoto led after every day but Sunday, birding the last two holes to shoot an even-par 71 in the final round. She had to qualify to get into the tournament and ended up in second place.
“I would love to have the Cup in my hand, but for the fourth day I couldn't
make birdies and I couldn't better my score,” Yamamoto said.
Lindley had finished runner-up each of the last two championships. She said a lot of people told her third time is a charm and she felt like she was calmer and patient than in the past. She came out on fire Sunday with birdies on five of the first eight holes.
“I've always been an underdog player, sneaky, under the radar,” Lindley said. “I have dared to dream so much bigger this season than I did when I was playing on the LPGA Tour. That's a pretty amazing feat, and I'm proud. I knew if I played like I was capable of that I would possibly hold this trophy one day.”
Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam finished fourth at two under and played in the group with Lindley.
“I've known Leta for a while,” Sorenstam said. “As you know, we were roommates at U of A. I've seen her, I know her strength, and I think she played really well. This is her game. Today she just executed very, very well.”
“Very happy for her and obviously her husband Matt, and Cole, her son, came out. It is a family championship, as you know, and it was nice for them to be able to share that moment today.”
Lindley left the LPGA Tour in 2012 and turned to family and teaching. She said it was teaching that brought her back to competitive golf. Lindley said she figured if you are going to teach than you better do because it makes you a better teacher.
“I have to credit my students and the opportunity that I had to start teaching that brought me back to competing, along with some of my peers encouraging me to come back,” Lindley said. “They said, Leta, you've got to come back, it's fun.”
“This is all worth it, all those days of blood, sweat and tears, to win this championship. It was worth every minute, every hour that I've put into this.”
The next USGA event in Pittsburgh is next June as the US Open returns to Oakmont.
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