(Galloway, NJ) Sun Devil Women’s Golf standout Linnea Strom is the 2024 ShopRite LPGA Classic Champion, capturing her first career LPGA Tour victory on Sunday.
The two-time All-American at Arizona State becomes the latest product of Sun Devil Women’s Golf to win at the sport’s highest level. Strom put together one of the most decorated careers in the history of the program and her success has continued as a professional.
“I am thrilled to see Linnea break through in such a big way,” Sun Devil Women’s Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kayeexclaimed. “She has had her ups and downs professionally after an amazing collegiate career. I can’t wait to see what is ahead for Linnea. Our Sun Devil Family is so excited for her.”
To win the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Strom put together a vintage performance recognizable to many Sun Devil fans. Strom won the 2016 Pac-12 Individual Championship while in Tempe and ended her illustrious career with 20 career Top-10 finishes. She earned her first victory on the LPGA Tour by shooting a tournament-record 11-under 60 on Sunday to overcome a seven-stroke deficit on the final day.
After making the cut right on the number Saturday, Strom was one of the first tee-times on Sunday. Her round started three hours and 40 minutes before the final group on the Bay Course at Seaview Resort, presenting her with a long wait after entering the clubhouse with the lead.
A key moment in the comeback was an eagle on the par-five ninth hole, as she chipped-in from 15-feet out to make up ground. She added an incredible nine birdies to get to 14-under 199. The 27-year-old birdied the last three holes and four of the last five, coming through in the clutch moments.
“Honestly, I really did not expect this waking up today,” Strom told LPGA.com after the win. “This is proof that you should never give up. Just go out there and give it your all.”
She had the lowest final-round score (60) by a winner in LPGA Tour history and matched the second-lowest score overall. Annika Sorenstam set the record with a 59 in the second round of the 2001 Standard Register PING. The previous best final round for a winner was a 61 by Inbee Park in the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
Strom started the day tied for 52nd which gives her by far the biggest comeback based on position on the LPGA Tour since 1984. The previous largest comeback by position since 1984 was Ayako Okamoto, who entered the final day tied for 23rd before winning the 1987 Lady Keystone Open.
“I think I just tried to do as well as I could and I honestly didn’t think I was playing for winning,” Strom added in her comments to LPGA.com. “I mean, obviously, always want to win in the back of your head, but I just tried to put a good score out there today. I’m very proud of how I handled myself all around today.”
The Hovas, Sweden native joins recent Sun Devil Legends Anna Nordqvist, Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Munoz, and Linn Grant in winning at the LPGA level. Nordqvist is a two-time winner of this event (2015, ’16), meaning ASU is responsible for three of the past ten titles at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. The Sun Devil Women’s Golf program has produced golfers that have won over 65 LPGA events, led by JoAnne Gunderson Carner’s 19, which ranks 15th all-time in the history of the sport.
Strom was not the only Sun Devil that enjoyed success at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, as Arizona State is represented consistently at the top of the LPGA Tour tournament standings week-to-week. Azahara Munoz (T12th), Alexandra Forsterling (T27th), and Roberta Liti (T40th) put together strong efforts that allowed them to make the cut and earn prize money. By virtue of Strom’s victory, she collects $262,500, adding to the over $45 million of total earnings from Sun Devils on the LPGA Tour.
Her fellow Sun Devil and Swedish product Linn Grant enjoyed a successful Sunday comeback of her own, winning the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed for a second time after starting the final day 11 shots behind.
WHILE AT ASU
Linnea Strom left ASU as one of the most decorated golfers in program history. Midway through her junior season, she opted to begin her professional career in the winter of 2017. It did not take long for her to earn a LPGA Tour card, doing so in the Fall of 2018. While at Arizona State, she emerged as one of the best female golfers in the country.
A member of the 2017 National Championship team, Strom was instrumental in securing the program’s NCAA-record eighth National Title. She was a WGCA First Team All-American and Pac-12 First Team All-Conference selection in 2017, capping the season by helping Arizona State defeat Northwestern in the Match Play finals at the 2017 NCAA Championship.
She was on her way to authoring one of the best seasons in school history as a junior, finishing in the Top-10 in all four Fall tournaments she competed in before turning pro. Prior to that, Strom put together eight Top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments during a breakout sophomore season, leading the Sun Devils to a national championship. Signs of what was to come were clear during a sensational freshman campaign in which Strom won the 2016 Pac-12 Individual Championship, establishing a new Pac-12 Championship 54-hole record with a 11-under 205. She finished her first season in Maroon & Gold as the No. 6-ranked golfer in the nation and received First Team All-American honors from the WGCA.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith – Sun Devil Athletics
Click on Logo
