The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE inaugural Pure-Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic finished on Sunday the way they got started on Tuesday with the rain drenching the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island. But that didn’t rain on Ilhee Lee’s parade as she celebrated with her first LPGA title and a purse of $195,000.

The tournament, which was reduced to 52 holes because of the inclement weather, had one Bahamian in the main draw as Georgette Rolle made her debut on the LPGA Tour as she finished tied for 137 out of a field of 144 with a 147, shooting rounds of 46-49-51 in the 36 holes played after officials re-configured 12 usable holes over the three days of competition.

“It was awesome. I had a great time. It was an overwhelming experience and I really can’t thank everyone enough,” said Rolle after her final round on Sunday. “It was a great experience. It was the top players in the world. After yesterday’s round, I ended up being tied with the number one player in the world, so everybody has their bad days.”

Rolle, 28, was given one of the two sponsor’s exemptions into the field. The two-time Bahamas National Women’s Amateur champion who attended Texas Southern where she is currently an assistant coach, ended up tied with Australian Sarah Jane Smith with 147.

In just her third year on the circuit, South Korea’s Lee posted a 126 (41-43-42) to clinch the title. She was followed by American Irene Cho, who was two shots behind at 128 (45-43-40) and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who came in third at 129 (40-44-45). Rolle admitted that not only were the conditions tough to play in, but the field of competitors made it even tougher.

“These ladies played very well under the conditions,” Rolle said. “I think I’ve learnt a lot from them and they should only help me to get through my next tournament on Wednesday with a breeze.”

Rolle was referring to the fact that she’s entered in the US Open Qualifier in Palm Beach, Florida. She is scheduled to leave town on Tuesday and play the 35-hole tournament starting on Wednesday from 7am to 7pm. Three weeks later, she intends to play in another LPGA Tournament for one of the two qualifying spots that was provided here when Racquel Riley attempted to get a spot, only to be denied after the rain cancelled the round.

“I’m going to be playing in all of the qualifiers that I can get in,” Rolle said. “My aim is to try and make it on the circuit just like these ladies are doing.”

Looking back at the tournament, Rolle said she certainly had a lifetime experience in her LPGA debut.

“I couldn’t have made my debut in front of a better audience,” she said. “I want to thank the LPGA, the Ocean Club Golf Club, the volunteers, Tyrone Sawyer and the Ministry of Tourism, Dr Daniel Johnson, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Bahamas Golf Federation, my family and all of the supporters who came out.

“Words can’t express the gratitude that I have. I’m going to continue to go out there and try to make the Bahamas proud and I will be back in December to put on my golf clinic as I try to encourage more female players especially to continue in the sport so that one day they too can be on the circuit.”

Dr Johnson said it was an exciting week, not just because the tournament was played here, but for the first time, the Bahamian public got to see a Bahamian player perform among the best players in the world.

“She really did us proud, even though she wasn’t one of the top finishers,” he said. “Just the fact that she got the opportunity to play will only open the door for other Bahamian female golfers to follow her footsteps in the future. We can only expect bigger and better things from her in the future.”

As for the tournament, Johnson said they expect to see the LPGA return “again and again” to put on the event because the feedback that they’ve gotten is that this is definitely one of the best courses to play on despite the inclement weather that we experienced.

“The weather was rough. On Tuesday, we had a freak storm that passed through Nassau. This caused some flooding on some of the holes, which changed the whole dynamics of the tournament. But the LPGA, the Paradise Island crew, the tournament organisers and the Bahamas Government all kicked into gear and still made it a world-class event.

“The Bahamas was featured for about eight hours on 52 countries around the world where people now look at us as a real destination for sports. We see the power of golf. The LPGA, which has international players of the highest quality, descended on the Bahamas for one week and despite the weather, they were quite impressed and are looking forward to coming back next year.”

In fact, tournament director Matt Truax said as of next week, they will start planning for the 2014 tournment.

“We have been really pleased with what happened here this week, from all of the volunteers, the sponsors, the spectactors and the players, who all helped to make this a successful tournament,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for a better tournament and we hope to make it even bigger and better next year.”