LPGA Drive On 2022 R3
February 03-05
Crown Colony G&CC, Fort Myers, Florida
$1,500,000
Round 1, Round 2

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Leona Maguire finished at 18-under after firing a final-round 67 at the LPGA Drive On Championship to win the first title of her LPGA Tour career, becoming the first woman from Ireland to win in the Tour’s history. Her 198 total ties her career-best 54-hole score, last recorded at the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship.

LPGA Drive On 2022 R3

“Hasn't really sunk in yet. It's a bit surreal. It's been a long time coming and I suppose you don't know it's going to happen until it actually does,” said Maguire. “Tried to just stay really patient today. Didn't get ahead of myself. Wanted to go out and just shoot a number. Didn't want anybody to have to hand it to me. I wanted to go out and win it myself and earn it. Yeah, just really proud of the way I played today.”

LPGA Drive On 2022 R3

Maguire started the day tied for the lead with Marina Alex and said she didn’t look at leaderboards until the fairway at the 18th and didn’t know how the results were beginning to net out. After carding her first birdie at the 2nd, Maguire picked up speed after a bogey at the 3rd with back-to-back birdies at the 7th and 8th and closed with a 33 on her back-nine holes.

“I think the birdie on 7 was huge. Brittany [Altomare] had gone on that run early, and as I expected, I knew someone was going to go low today. I was just trying to keep up with her and Marina early on.

"That birdie on 7 and 8 as well out of the pine straw was huge for momentum making the turn, and then another two on 10 and 11. I thought the shot on 11 was in,” said Maguire. “But, yeah, just some really solid iron shots to set up those chances.”

LPGA Drive On 2022 R3

Lexi Thompson played her first seven holes 7-under, which included an eagle at the 10th. She closed with a birdie after a bogey at the 16th and posted a final-round 65 to finish at 15-under.

“I think it's all about just putting myself in contention. I've put in the work in the off-season, hours on the putting green, hours in the gym, and just working on myself and improvement. There's all I want to see. As athletes we just continue to try to improve on our games and ourselves, and that's what I see. We just want to see the hard work pay off,” said Thompson. “Just going to continue to work hard and stay in the moment and put myself in contention and hopefully a win will come.”

The 11-time LPGA Tour winner last won at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Sarah Schmelzel made six birdies in her final seven holes to move up the leaderboard into third at 14-under, her career-best finish on the LPGA Tour. Five players tied for fourth at 13-under.

LPGA Drive On 2022 R3