Golf: Israel’s Beck goes -11 in Canada for impressive 19th-place finish

The 23-year-old, who became the first Israeli to earn an LPGA or a PGA Tour Card last December, opened the event with a superb eight-under-par 64.

JUNE 9, 2015 05:58

Laetitia Beck is nervous, yet also excited and confident, as she gets used to the idea that she will be playing full time on the LPGA Tour next year (photo credit: MARK SIMS) — Laetitia Beck is nervous, yet also excited and confident, as she gets used to the idea that she will be playing full time on the LPGA Tour next year

(photo credit: MARK SIMS)

Laetitia Beck recorded the best result of her career to date on Sunday, finishing the Manulife LPGA Classic in Ontario, Canada in 19th place at 11-under-par.

The 23-year-old, who became the first Israeli to earn an LPGA or a PGA Tour Card last December, opened the event with a superb eight-under-par 64, but had to settle for 19th position after carding a two-over-par 74 in the fourth and final round on Sunday.

Nevertheless, she will be extremely pleased with her performance, ending a tournament under-par for the first time this year and collecting $16,046 for her efforts.

Beck finished last week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey, in 67th place after failing to make the cut in three consecutive tournaments.

Suzann Pettersen claimed a dramatic win in Ontario and paid tribute to new coach Butch Harmon after her triumph.

The 34-year-old from Norway countered a sizzling charge by American Brittany Lang with a late birdie run of her own to secure the victory in breezy conditions on the Whistle Bear course in Cambridge.

With Lang already in the clubhouse after a brilliant seven-under- par 65, Pettersen made a tapin birdie at the par-five 16th to tie and then a five-footer at the 17th to regain the lead.

A tap-in par at the last gave Pettersen her 15th LPGA victory, and her first in two years.

“I’m so glad I made a move to go to Butch,” Pettersen told Golf Channel after shooting a 69 for a 22-under 266 total.

“I feel like it’s better than it’s ever been and thank Butch for believing in me.”

Harmon, who began working with Pettersen late last year, is the instructor who guided Tiger Woods during the first six years of Woods’s professional career.

Pettersen started the final round with a one-stroke lead, but fell back with two early bogeys.

“I kept digging deep and finished strong, and I feel like I played really good golf this week,” she said.

“It’s nice to be back. There’s probably been some tears of pain, feeling like you’re bouncing your head against the wall with injuries.”

Runner-up Lang thought she would at least get into a playoff after three straight birdies from the 15th, but watched helplessly as Pettersen responded.

“I hit great shots under pressure. Can’t be mad about that,” said Lang, 29, who finished runner- up at the 2005 US Women’s Open while still an amateur.

“A little let down when I heard she birdied 16 and 17. That’s really good golf. She deserves it.”

Reuters contributed to this report.