Once again, the Dana Open presented by Marathon was a success. Sunday’s weather was slightly damp, but golf fans were treated to a quality field and the players put on an exciting show.
After the first three rounds 19-year-old Lucy Li held a tentative one-shot lead over veterans, Caroline Masson and Lexi Thompson. Seven more players including, defending Dana Open champ, Nasa Hataoka, 2014 and 2016 Dana Open winner, Lydia Ko, European Solheim Cup star, Leona Maguire and Brooke Henderson, were tied just three shots back heading into the final round on Sunday.
On Sunday, however, it was the Gaby Lopez show as she birdied the final three holes to fire an eight-under par 63 and post -18 for the tournament, while the leaders struggled down the stretch. Her birdie save from the greenside bunker elicited a huge fist pump from Lopez.
Third round leaders Li could only manage a one-under par 70 and fell to a tie for fourth. Lexi Thompson bogeyed three of her final four holes for a 73 and fell to a tie for 16th.
This was Lopez’ third LPGA Tour win and moved her up to 23rd in the Race to the CME Globe.
The big winner of the Dana Open, as always, is the Toledo-area Children’s Charities that will benefit from the proceeds of the tournament. Since the tournament’s beginning in 1984 as the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic over $10 million has been generated to benefit area children. On any given day funds donated from the Dana Open touch the lives of hundreds of area kids and help make their lives better.
It requires a lot of volunteers to put on an event like the Dana Open and local groups always provide the manpower to control traffic, keep score and serve all the needs to keep the players comfortable.
Congratulations to Tournament Director Judd Silverman and his entire team on another successful Dana Open.
For full results from the Dana Open visit their website.
