Lilia Vu has registered her fourth LPGA victory this season with an impeccable three-shot win at The Annika at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, the USA, from 9-12 November, 2023.
Vu, who started the final round three shots behind Emily Kristine Pedersen, carded a four-under 66 to end the week on 19 under, and increase the prospect of being crowned LPGA Tour player of the year.
With her final score, the American has broken the 72-hole scoring record by two shots, in her first appearance at The Annika. The three-stroke win over Allison Lee also returns her to the top of the Rolex Rankings.
“For me, it was all about the mindset. I’m not a technical player. I just try to play the course the way it’s given to me, and then just go from there. The next shot could be the best shot you ever hit. And that’s the mindset I think about all the time.”
Four-Time LPGA 2023 Winner, Lilia Vu
As the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship looms, Vu can be proud of a stellar 2023 after her win in November’s Honda LPGA Thailand, and the two major championship victories at The Chevron Championship in Texas in April, and AIG Women’s Open in England this August.
She came into the tournament three points behind Celine Boutier in the race for the points-based LPGA player of the year, with Vu now giving her a 27-point advantage over the Frenchwoman going into the final Championship.
Even if Boutier triumphs at the CME Group Tour Championship, the UCLA graduate can still finish within the top 8 in order to capture LPGA Player of the Year honours.
If she manages that, Vu would become the first American to win the award since 2014, when Stacy Lewis did it.
For now, the United States Solheim Cup Team member is focused on this weekend’s victory while also leaning on the invaluable lessons that’s she’s learnt.
“I know I tend to be hard on myself,” Vu said. “As long as I set myself kind of easy, just to be in contention on the weekend, then it kind of just somehow happens.”
Three shots behind Vu, fellow UCLA graduate Alison Lee and LPGA mum Azahara Munoz were tied for second place. “It’s really cool to see Lilia play some amazing golf this year,” said Lee, who also finished as runner-up at the BMW Ladies Championship after losing to Minjee Lee in a playoff.
Photo Caption: The USA’s Lilia has regained the top spot on the Rolex Rankings after her impeccable three-shot win over the weekend at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, the USA. This triumph puts her on course to walk away with LPGA Tour Player of the Year. Photo: Lilia Vu on Instagram
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