Ayaka Furue Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

What they said: Stars speak ahead of Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:26:58 +0000

Ayaka Furue. Women’s Scottish Open

The world’s best players including six of the world’s top 10 have landed at Dundonald Links for the Women’s Scottish Open, with defending champion Ayaka Furue, US Women’s Open Champion Allisen Corpuz, and golf’s latest major winner Celine Boutier talking to the media.

Ayaka Furue
World No. 18

Defending Champion
Shortest active player on the LPGA at 5 foot
Won last year’s event in her rookie year on the LPGA
A final round 62 to seal victory last year included a run of six consecutive birdies
Has earned seven top-10 finishes this season, including second place at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play

On what the Japanese fans thought of her rookie win in Scotland…
“When I went back to Japan, all the Japanese fans, they already know the bunkers and the course is very difficult. So they were very happy that I was able to win in that condition, and everybody said great job, great job.”
On her tactics this week…
“I’m only trying to be a good friend with the wind on this course and enjoy my golf this week.”

Celine Boutier. Women’s Scottish Open

Celine Boutier
World No. 4

First French winner of the Amundi Evian Championship
Four LPGA victories to her name
Won this year’s Amundi Evian Championship by six shots over two-time major winner Brooke Henderson
Has finished within the top-10 at every major:
The Chevron Championship T4: 2022
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship T7: 2021
U.S. Women’s Open T5: 2019
AIG Women’s Open 6th: 2019
The Amundi Evian Championship Won: 2023

On winning her first major in front of her home fans…
“I never really pictured how it was going to happen. Obviously it was such a dream for me. I wouldn’t even call it a goal for me this year. I obviously wanted to perform well in the majors. But in the past I was never really able to play well in Evian, just the pressure of everything was a lot for me to handle and this year, I just decided to really do it for myself and not put so much pressure on myself. The fact that I even had a chance to play for the win in the final round was a big advantage for me and to pull it off on the final day to, have the crowd behind you, which I never imagined that they would be so loud and so energetic, so passionate about it. It felt like a win for me and it felt like a win for them as well. To be able to share it with everyone in my home country is an absolute dream come true.”
On why she is here this week after the biggest victory of her life…
“I had a very good week last year on this course. I feel like I really enjoy playing in links course. And I feel like even though Walton Heath is not going to be like links, traditional links, I feel like it’s still good to be in the UK and Scotland and to be able to get a feel for the wind and weather and stuff like that. I feel like it was going to be a good week to prepare for the British.”

Allisen Corpuz. Women’s Scottish Open

Allisen Corpuz
World No. 7

Won her first major at this year’s US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach
In her rookie year on the LPGA, she made 17 of 21 cuts and finished the year at 41st on the Rolex World Rankings
Member of the victorious 2021 Curtis Cup team in Wales, which was also her first-time playing links golf
Making her second appearance at the Women’s Scottish Open

On returning to Dundonald Links…
“I think it’s definitely a gettable course. There’s a lot of birdie opportunities. There’s just a few holes that play a little tougher, a little longer and especially with the wind it can definitely be tough to gauge just yardages in, how much the ball is going to roll out, even into the wind, how much the wind is going to play a factor there. So really just coming in with a little more knowledge and trying to score a little better this year.”
On what she enjoys most about links golf…
“Yeah, I haven’t quite figured it out yet but I think it’s really fun. I think it’s great to watch drives roll like a hundred yards and be thinking, Oh, it’s going to roll up 50 yards to the green. I think that’s really fun. It definitely just takes some extra time, a little more thought, but I love it.”
On staying onsite this week…
“It’s beautiful and a very spacious room. Very nice shower. It’s just nice to be able to roll out of bed and just walk on to property. It’s nice to be able to see the course from the room. Haven’t had dinner here yet but the food has been really good so far.”

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Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2022 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:14:28 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Japan’s Ayaka Furue came into the 2022 LPGA season with some lofty expectations. The 22-year-old had won seven times previously on the pro circuit in her home country and finished seventh in LPGA Q Series to earn qualify for her rookie season in the US. While finishing second at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play, and making 13 cuts in 14 stroke-play starts, her best showing to date, however, was only a T-17.

That changed on Sunday when Furue shot a blistering 10-under 62 at the Dundonald Links. It pushed her past Lydia Ko and Celine Boutier to claim the title at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. With the victory, Furue won the first-place prize money payout of $300,000 from an overall purse of $2 million. That almost doubled her season/career earnings ($377,285).

Furue joins Atthaya Thitikul as the only other rookie to win on tour in 2022 and the fifth first-time winner, joining Jennifer Kupcho, Nana Koerstz Madsen and Leona Maguire.

Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer who made the cut in the tournament.
Win: Ayaka Furue, -21, $300,000
2: Celine Boutier, -18, $167,294
T-3: Hyo Joo Kim, -17, $97,588
T-3: Cheyenne Knight, -17, $97,588
T-5: Alison Lee, -16, $62,271
T-5: Lydia Ko, -16, $62,271
7: Nasa Hataoka, -15, $52,047
T-8: Wichanee Meechai , -14, $44,612
T-8: Lilia Vu, -14, $44,612
T-8: Maude-Aimee Leblanc, -14, $44,612
T-11: In Gee Chun, -13, $39,035
T-11: Hye-Jin Choi, -13, $39,035
T-11: Narin An, -13, $39,035
14: Madelene Sagstrom, -12, $35,318
T-15: Ryann O’Toole, -11, $32,529
T-15: Xiyu Janet Lin, -11, $32,529
T-15: Leonie Harm, -11, $32,529
T-18: Minjee Lee, -10, $27,665
T-18: Charley Hull, -10, $27,665
T-18: Gaby Lopez, -10, $27,665
T-18: Bronte Law, -10, $27,665
T-18: Georgia Hall, -10, $27,665
T-18: Eun-Hee Ji, -10, $27,665
T-24: Yuka Saso, -9, $21,005
T-24: Moriya Jutanugarn, -9, $21,005
T-24: Megan Khang, -9, $21,005
T-24: Sei Young Kim, -9, $21,005
T-24: Chanettee Wannasaen , -9, $21,005
T-29: Chella Choi, -8, $17,101
T-29: Patty Tavatanakit, -8, $17,101
T-31: Ally Ewing, -7, $14,685
T-31: Amy Yang, -7, $14,685
T-31: Jasmine Suwannapura, -7, $14,685
T-34: Jennifer Kupcho, -6, $12,082
T-34: Perrine Delacour, -6, $12,082
T-34: Hannah Green, -6, $12,082
T-34: Gemma Dryburgh, -6, $12,082
T-38: Stephanie Meadow, -5, $10,224
T-38: Anna Nordqvist, -5, $10,224
T-38: Lauren Stephenson, -5, $10,224
T-41: Lindsey Weaver-Wright, -4, $9,268
T-41: Carmen Alonso, -4, $9,268
T-41: Esther Henseleit, -4, $9,268
T-41: Mina Harigae, -4, $9,268
T-41: Sanna Nuutinen, -4, $9,268
T-41: Andrea Lee, -4, $9,268
T-41: A Lim Kim, -4, $9,268
T-48: Pia Babnik, -3, $7,714
T-48: Johanna Gustavsson, -3, $7,714
T-48: Tiia Koivisto, -3, $7,714
T-48: Sarah Schober, -3, $7,714
T-48: Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras , -3, $7,714
T-48: Haeji Kang, -3, $7,714
T-48: Jeongeun Lee6, -3, $7,714
T-48: Pauline Roussin, -3, $7,714
T-56: Sophia Popov, -2, $6,413
T-56: Marina Alex, -2, $6,413
T-56: Allisen Corpuz, -2, $6,413
T-56: Jennifer Chang, -2, $6,413
T-56: Emma Grechi, -2, $6,413
T-56: Anne van Dam, -2, $6,413
T-62: Ariya Jutanugarn, -1, $5,576
T-62: Becky Brewerton, -1, $5,576
T-62: Wei-Ling Hsu, -1, $5,576
T-65: Emily Kristine Pedersen, E, $4,926
T-65: Pornanong Phatlum , E, $4,926
T-65: Ana Pelaez Trivino, E, $4,926
T-65: Jessica Karlsson, E, $4,926
T-69: Kylie Henry, +1, $4,368
T-69: Kelly Tan, +1, $4,368
T-71: Morgane Metraux, +3, $3,996
T-71: Jin Young Ko, +3, $3,996
73: Maria Hernandez, +6, $3,718
T-74: Arpichaya Yubol , +7, $3,439
T-74: Chloe Williams, +7, $3,439

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WATCH: Highlights from the Women’s Scottish Open as Furue storms to title

Matt Smith — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 05:01:08 +0000

By Matt Smith
Catch all the action from Dundonald Links where Japan’s Ayaka Furue stunned the field with a stunning final round to claim the Ladies European Tour/LPGA co-sanctioned Women’s Scottish Open.

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The 22-year-old began the day in a tie for ninth place, but shot a course-record 62 to win by three from France’s Celine Boutier.

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Ladies European Tour: Japan’s Furue storms to maiden title with Dundonald Links course record

Matt Smith — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 17:43:00 +0000

By Matt Smith
Japan’s Ayaka Furue stunned the leaders and stormed to a maiden LPGA and Ladies European Tour victory with a course record 62 at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.

The 22-year-old began the day in a tie for ninth place, five shots behind the leading duo of Celine Boutier and Lydia Ko, but quickly powered her way through the field.

Furue kicked into top gear rolling in six birdies in-a-row from holes six through to 11 to put herself in contention.

Another birdie on 15 put the seven-time JLPGA winner in front and back-to-back birdies on the last two holes sealed victory on 21-under-par in Furue’s first appearance at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.

“My shots and putting and all-around game were very good and when I needed to make big birdie putts, I was able to make them,” said the rookie, who had Glaswegian Michael Scott on her bag.

“With this win, it builds up a lot of confidence for me and I’m looking forward to having more big tournaments and playing at next week’s AIG Women’s Open.

“Mike is always a big help to me, and I am so happy that I was able to win in Scotland and near his hometown of Glasgow.”

France’s Boutier, who was the co-leader after 54 holes, finished in second place after producing a round of 69 on the final day.

The two-time Solheim Cup winner had seven birdies and four bogeys on her scorecard on the fourth day to have a total of 18-under-par at Dundonald Links.

“Starting the round, I knew I had to shoot a low score, even though I was tied for the lead,” said Boutier. “And on this course, you can score pretty low. I was trying to focus on my own game and not pay too much attention on the leaderboard. She just had a really great day, so there was nothing I could have done.

“Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed at the moment but I feel like my game has been very solid all week and I put myself in position. Playing the final round, in the final group, is not always easy to manage. I feel like hopefully I’m going to gain some experience from this and next time I’ll be lifting the trophy.”

With the final major of the year next week at Muirfield, Boutier is going to take the positives and what she has learned here into the AIG Women’s Open.

She added: “I feel pretty good. I feel like my irons, approach shots and short game have been very solid especially, so I’m just hoping to take that into next week and it is great preparation.

“I feel like that it was a little bit windy and there is a little bit of preparation for next week. That’s the main thing, I don’t think I could have expected a better week than how I played.”

Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim and American Cheyenne Knight ended the tournament in a share of third place on 17-under-par after carding rounds of 66 and 65, respectively.

One shot further back in a tie for fifth place were American Alison Lee and New Zealand’s Ko, while Japan’s Nasa Hataoka finished in seventh place 15-under-par.

It was also announced that Dundonald Links will host the 2023 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET in Ayrshire.

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Charley Hull on the charge at Amundi Evian Championship as Ayaka Furue leads Nelly Korda in France

Matt Smith — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 07:19:36 +0000

By Matt Smith
Charley Hull is lurking just behind the leaders at the Amundi Evian Championship as the Kettering star seeks her first major.

The 26-year-old shot an opening five-under 66 to sit three behind first-round leader Ayaka Furue of Japan at Evian Resort Golf Club in France on Thursday.

Canadian Brooke Henderson and Nelly Korda of the United States are tied for second, while fellow American Cheyenne Knight lies in solo fourth.

Hull feels refreshed after three weeks spent at home “chilling”.

“It’s the English summer at the moment and a heatwave, so I would have missed out if I hadn’t taken a break,” said the Rolex Rankings No. 38. “I went for a lot of walks to get in my 15,000 steps per day and also had some enjoyable time in pub gardens.”

Hull started at the 10th and birdied the par-3 14th, the par-4 17th and the par-5 18th, before picking up three further shots at the par-3 second, the par-4 third and the par-4 sixth hole.

She said: “I played pretty solid all day, but it’s a Major and there are three more rounds, so anything can happen.”

This is her ninth appearance in the championship and she feels that she has the experience to navigate the sloping fairways and undulating greens.

“This course can be tricky to score around, but after eight or nine years you start to figure it out. I don’t really think too much, because the course where I grew up, Kettering Golf Club, is pretty much as slopey as this on the fairways, so I’m lucky I don’t have to think too much about adjusting, I’ve always automatically adjusted (to playing side hill lies).”

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