Lowest Winning Scores in Women's British Open
The Women's British Open (formally named The Women's Open and run by the R&A) is one of the five major championships of women's professional golf. It rotates to a different golf course around the U.K. on a year-to-year basis.
In 1997, Karrie Webb, playing at Sunningdale in Sunningdale, Berkshire, England, near London, became the first golfer to win this major with a score lower than 270. Her 269 became the tournament's 72-hole scoring record. It was Webb's second win in the tournament, and she won by eight strokes.
Seven years later, the Women's British Open was back at Sunningdale. And Karen Stupples matched Webb's record with a winning score of 269. Stupples won by five strokes.
There is one "major" difference between Webb's win and Stupples' victory, though: When Webb won in 1997, this tournament was not yet counted as an LPGA major championship. When Stupples won it seven years later, it was one of the women's majors.
The Women's Open Record: Best 72-Hole Winning Scores
- 269 — Karrie Webb, 1997, Sunningdale
- 269 — Karen Stupples, 2004, Sunningdale
- 270 — Jiyai Shin, 2008, Sunningdale
- 270 — In-Kyung Kim, 2017, Kingsbarns
- 270 — Hinako Shibuno, 2019, Woburn (Marquess course)
- 271 — Georgia Hall, 2018, Royal Lytham & St. Annes
- 272 — Jeong Jang, 2005, Royal Birkdale
- 272 — Yani Tseng, 2011, Carnoustie
- 272 — Ariya Jutanugarn, 2016, Woburn (Marquess course)
Progression of 72-Hole Women's Open Scoring Record
This is how the 72-hole scoring record has progressed in the Women's British Open, beginning with the very first tournament in 1976:
299 — Jenny Lee Smith, 1976, Fulford
294 — Debbie Massey, 1980, Wentworth
289 — Ayako Okamoto, 1984, Woburn (Dukes course)
283 — Laura Davies, 1986, Royal Birkdale
274 — Jane Geddes, 1989, Ferndown
269 — Karrie Webb, 1997, Sunningdale
That the record hasn't been lowered since 1997 makes this one of the oldest scoring records in major championship golf.
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