Virginia Golfer Jan / Feb 2019 | Page 30

Pro Tours 2019 Winning Women Ariya Jutanugarn took the LPGA by storm in 2018 and is a clear favorite heading into 2019. 28 The 2019 LPGA Tour Schedule Dates | Tournament | Course | Location | Purse | Defending champion Jan. 14-20: Diamond Head Resorts Tournament of Champions | Four Sea- son Golf & Sports Club Orlando | Lake Buena Vista, Fla. | $1.2M | New event Feb. 18-24: Honda LPGA Thailand | Siam CC Old Course | Chonburi, Thailand | $1.6M | Jessica Korda Feb. 4-10: Vic Open | 13th Beach Golf Links | Victoria, Australia | $1.1M | Minjee Lee Feb. 25-March 3: HSBC Women’s World Championship | Sentosa GC New Tanjong Course | Singapore | $1.5M | Michelle Wie Feb. 11-17: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open | The Grange Golf Club | Grange, Australia | $1.3M | Jin Young Ko March 18-24: Bank of Hope Founders Cup | Wildfire GC | Phoenix | $1.5M | Inbee Park V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 9 vsga.org B y any measure, Ariya Juta- nugarn’s 2018 season was pure dominance. She jump- started her run right here in Virginia, winning the Kingsmill Cham- pionship for the second time before adding two more titles to her resume, including the U.S. Women’s Open. She won the Race to the CME Globe (the LPGA Tour’s season-long points race); finished atop the money list with $2.74 million, more than $1.2 million clear of No. 2 Minjee Lee; and was the LPGA’s leader in scoring average at 69.415. What can the Thai superstar do for an encore in 2019? A look at the schedule: