Local ladies dominate LPGA Tour
LPGA tournament spotlights the beauty and brilliance of Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
March 11, 2021
During one beautiful week at the end of February 2021, the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (LNGCC) welcomed 120 of the best female golfers worldwide for the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA Tournament.
While our world-class championship golf course was new to some, many felt right at home – because they were!
“I love Lake Nona. I like the variety of holes and the beauty of it. It’s fun to play and in excellent shape. I would probably say the 18th is my favorite hole because it’s a pretty view sitting on Lake Nona,” said Team Nona’s Annika Sorenstam, who made her first appearance on the LPGA Tour since retiring 13 years ago.
Sorenstam was one of six LNGCC members along with three from its sister club at Isleworth Golf & Country Club, including Gabi Ruffels on her professional debut, who all made who made the cut to compete for the $2 million purse. Four of the nine finished in the top 20, including Lake Nona’s own Lydia Ko who tied for second place at 13-under par. Team Nona’s Leona Maguire was close behind at 6-under par.
Dame Laura Davies of England, a World Golf Hall of Famer, played in that inaugural Solheim Cup 31 years ago and found the opportunity to come back and play Lake Nona’s storied course was too big to pass up, as she too, joined the stunning array of talent at this year’s Gainbridge LPGA.
Lake Nona’s pristine conditions won high praise from many visitors including the tournament’s champion, Nelly Korda, who said she would rank the LNGCC course as “one of the top courses we’ve played for sure.” This tournament wasn’t her first LPGA victory, but it was her first win on U.S. soil.
From its wooded front nine to its breathtaking lake vistas along the back, Lake Nona’s 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed course has a reputation for quality that dates back to its first LPGA event in 1990 where the U.S. defeated Europe at the inaugural Solheim Cup. Since then, LNGCC has hosted the World Cup of Golf (1993), the Tavistock Cup (2004, 2007, 2009, 2012), U.S. Open qualifiers (1993, 2003, 2004, 2009) and numerous amateur tournaments.
But the course isn’t only for the pros who come to play or call Lake Nona home. The club also features one of the most outfitted golf performance centers in the country, The Workshop at Lake Nona, designed to provide a comprehensive training experience for players of all levels. Visit www.lakenona.club to learn more about LNGCC and click here to learn more about Lake Nona’s sports scene for every kind of athlete.