Sun-Ju Ahn presented new Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 (click to enlarge)
I’ve been so busy with my (now) annual WTA/LPGA countdown that I didn’t comment on the 2014 JLPGA Awards. Better late than never. It was the Sun-Ju Ahn show. On the LPGA, Stacy Lewis captured the Triple Crown. Ahn did the same on the JLPGA, winning the Player of the Year, capturing the money list title and having the best scoring average.
Player of the Year (click to enlarge)
A 5-time winner in 2014, Sun-Ju amassed ¥153,075,741 (roughly around 1.27 million USD) in prize money. That was good enough to outpace 2nd place Teresa Lu who earned ¥123,172,186 (roughly 1.02 million USD). Ahn’s 70.13 scoring average bested 2nd place Bo-Mee Lee at 70.53 and 3rd place Teresa Lu at 70.63.
Prize Money Award
Scoring Award
Teresa Lu Fighting Spirit Award
While Ahn swept the big awards, Teresa Lu was presented with the Fighting Spirit Award. I won’t lie. I wanted to see Teresa in the States this past season. But if she is to focus on the Japanese tour, I am happy not only to see her have success but win 2 Majors this season.
Rookie of the Year (click to enlarge)
Speaking of Major winners, Ai Suzuki, who won the Konica Minolta Cup, took home the Rookie of the Year Award. She broke Ai Miyazato’s record as the youngest winner of the 2nd Major of the JLPGA season. Suzuki was 20 years 128 days old when she won. Miyazato was 21 years 83 days old when she won.
Ayaka Watanabe wins shot of the year
Shot of the Year went to Ayaka Watanabe. At the AXA Ladies Golf Tournament, she trailed Saiki Fujita by 5 shots when she stepped to the 14th tee in the final round. With some great play from Ayaka and shaky play from Fujita, Watanabe left the 18th hole with a 7 shot swing and 2-shot victory. Ayaka finished birdie, birdie and eagle on the final three holes. The eagle was a long chip in that left Watanabe and her caddie ecstatic and Fujita with hands on hips and a smile to mask her disbelief.
ALL PICS CLICK TO ENLARGE
SUN-JU AHN
Prize Money
Scoring Title
Mercedes-Benz
Fairways and Forehands 