LPGA Locks Talk Realizing The Dream And More From Daytona Beach

Erynne Lee

(Symetra Tour/Scott A. Miller)

Three LPGA locks — No. 1 Benyapa Niphatsophon (Bangkok, Thailand), No. 3 Hannah Green (Perth, Australia) and No. 5 Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington) — were on the range at LPGA International on Tuesday preparing for their final event on the Symetra Tour. 

Niphatsophon, who has five second place finishes this year, is excited for a return to the LPGA in 2018. She played on the LPGA in 2016 through her finish at the 2015 LPGA Qualifying Tournament. 

“I’m happy to have earned my LPGA card back, it was a good year,” said Niphatsophon, who had 11 total top 10’s. “I’m looking forward to getting back out on the LPGA. I want to thank my parents, the Symetra Tour for making all the events possible and the rules officials.”

Green, who won last week, grew up watching the LPGA on television in Australia and now looks forward to playing on television weekly. 

“The last few weeks, I’ve sealed the deal so the build up to Sunday will be pretty cool,” said Green, who has three wins this season. “It’s pretty cool to think that I will be on the LPGA next year as I watch the Tour on television and now I’ll be playing. This year on Symetra (Tour) has been a big learning experience for my golf game and myself. It has been a good place to start. I’m kind of glad I had to detour to go through Symetra to get to LPGA.”

Lee, who appeared on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive on Tuesday, almost quit golf last year and is now achieving a dream. 

“The fact that I was able to prove to myself that I was able to get the job done is great,” said Lee. “After last year, I was questioning whether I wanted to keep playing golf. It was almost to the point where this was going to be my last hurrah.”

Lee started slow this season with no top 10’s in her first seven events, but has recorded two wins since her father, Brian, became her caddy.

“Sometimes when you say you have a last hurrah, it comes out better than expected,” said Lee. “This is definitely a dream come true.”