SANDWICH, Mass., Sept. 7, 2018 – The team of Dame Laura Davies and Trish Johnson are the winners of this year’s second annual BJ’s Charity Championship presented by P&G.
The duo from Great Britain paired together in The Legends Tour event for the first time and carded a score of 10-under 61 in the 24-player team event at The Ridge Club.
The former European Solheim Cup teammates moved to 7 under through nine holes in the best-ball format and were 3 under on the back nine holes in the scramble format. Davies gave her team early momentum when she drained a 35-foot putt for birdie on the seventh hole.
“I don’t think Trish missed a fairway out there and if she was in position off the tee, I tried to hit it as hard as I could,” said Davies, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, who made her first appearance in the event.
“We played very well in the better-ball format, but just didn’t make as many putts in the scramble,” added Johnson, playing the event for the second time on the par-71 course.
The pair combined for eight birdies and one eagle to split the winning prize of $20,000.
Two teams tied for runner-up honors at 8-under 63, including defending champions Patti Rizzo and Michele Redman, and the team of World Golf Hall of Fame member Donna Caponi and LPGA veteran Laurie Rinker.
Caponi and Rinker birdied holes 5 through 8 in the best-ball format to take an early lead at 5 under, and then added birdies on holes 13 through 15 on the back nine to stay within striking distance of the leaders.
Caponi’s birdie effort on the final hole stopped short of dropping in, while Redman and Rizzo birdied No. 18 to remain in a share of second place.
“You need one player who can bomb it and the other player just needs to keep it in play,” said Caponi. “We had that balance – and we were always around the hole.”
The California pairing of Pat Hurst and Juli Inkster finished fourth with a combined gross score of 64, followed by a tie for fifth at 65, by the teams of Gail Graham and Hollis Stacy, and Michelle McGann and Suzie Whaley.
The event includes a pro-am tournament and benefits BJ’s Charitable Foundation, serving Boston charities.
“Over the years, we’ve given millions of dollars to organizations like the Greater Boston Food Bank because of this event,” said Kirk Saville, senior vice president of corporate communications for BJ’s Wholesale Club and executive director of the BJ’s Charitable Foundation.
“We’re truly proud to be partnered with the LPGA’s Legends and their passion for the game, and most importantly, their commitment to the fans and their engagement with the fans is truly inspiring,” added Saville.
As for England’s Davies and Johnson, who were making their first appearance together as a team since pairing for The Legends Tour’s 2015 Handa Cup, the event brought together two veteran LPGA stars for a day of fun on the other side of the Atlantic in New England.
“It was a strong field and you had to play well to win, which we did,” added Davies. “But any time you get to play with a partner, it’s brilliant.”
