During the pandemic shutdown in 2020, it was really difficult for many players on the Ladies European Tour to find a way to make a living. PGA Tour star Justin Rose and his wife Kate Rose, along with LET member Liz Young, saw the opportunity to provide Europe-based golfers with a place to compete as the world slowly opens up again.
The Rose Ladies Series has been a boon to so many players, but perhaps none more than Gemma Dryburgh. A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, she won consecutive events in 2020, winning on the LET home course at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, then becoming the first professional female winner in the history of the famous Royal St George’s.
In early August, Dryburgh took her third victory in the Rose Ladies Series, this time at JCB Golf and Country Club. Dryburgh said the wind at JCB is very similar to what she has seen so far at Oregon Golf Club, so success in England has provided even more inspiration.
“That gives you so much confidence. Just winning anywhere gives you a lot of confidence in your game, ”said Dryburgh, who is looking to improve on T6’s Tour best result at the 2020 LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness Club. “Yeah, I feel really good with my swing and putting too, so I’ll just take it over to the weekend.”
AS FOR KATHERINE KIRK
Australian Katherine Kirk made a hole-in-one at No. 12 and hit it from 131 yards with a pitching wedge.
“It was actually fun because I hit it well, so of course it’s a bonus that it went in. But it was a good number and I put a good swing on it and landed about 2 feet to the right of the hole and let go, “said Kirk. “I thought I hit it too hard, but obviously it was enough. I was happy that it went in and didn’t have to putt. “
Kirk’s ace is the fourth of her LPGA Tour career and the first since the first round of the 2017 Volunteers of America Classic. For the Hole-in-One, CME Group will donate US $ 20,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the world leader in understanding, treating, and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In the 2021 season, 13 aces were donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a total of $ 260,000.
“That is the highlight of the day. Obviously they are doing great things in this hospital and the heart goes out to these children and their families. Yes, the heroes are the doctors and their work, ”said Kirk. “I am happy to take part and to see beautiful. I think it’s the CME that helps. Many thanks to the CME Group for that, because that’s pretty great. “