There were plenty of stellar efforts recorded during the four-day State Farm Classic this past week in Springfield, Ill., but some stood out more than others.
And those fine showings weren't all coming from the players at the top of the final leaderboard.
Here is a look at my top player performances from the event:
10. KYEONG BAE
69-69-71-67 - 276 (T12)
The South Korean standout put together a strong showing in Springfield, finishing in a tie for 12th after posting a final-round, 5-under-par 66 to close things on her tournament. Bae's 66 was one of the low rounds of the day, helping her just miss the top 10 after starting in a tie for 25th place. Her game improved as the tourney went on, as she hit 24 of 28 fairways over the final two days and posted just one bogey through the closing 36 holes.
9. NICOLE HAGE
71-68-72-69 - 280 (T28)
Twitter: @NicoleHage
The Auburn University product clearly had one of the wildest rounds of the tournament, putting up crooked numbers (good and bad) over the four-day span. Hage racked up 20 birdies, six bogeys and four double bogeys on her way to finishing at 10 under for a share of 28th place. Ranked sixth on the tour in driving distance at just under 270 yards per tee shot, Hage was on point Sunday as she hit 13 of 14 fairways. However, she was unable to produce that near-perfect run on fairways hit Friday and Saturday, primarily due to her exceptional length, and was only able to drive the ball safely 19 of 28 chances. If Hage can find some consistency as such a big hitter, she has the overall game to become a weekly contender on the tour.
8. JANE PARK
73-68-73-67 - 281 (T35)
Twitter: @The_JanePark
Park saved her best for last at the State Farm Classic, firing a 5-under 67 on an impressive final round en route to a share of 35th place. The UCLA product had one of the biggest moves Sunday, as she started the final 18 holes in tie for 56th place. Park, one of the most personable players on the tour, called out her short game for letting her down at one point during the tourney. However, it was her typically consistent putting that showed its usual life as she only needed 76 putts over the final 54 holes to stay in the mix. Park, the Luke Donald or Brad Faxon of putting on the women's tour, boasts the LPGA's third-best average in putts in regulation (1.70). She isn't the longest hitter off the tee (247.5 avg, T98) and or most accurate htting the greens in regulation (0.621, 107th), but her game is so close to taking a big step forward. Sunday's round - and the tournament in general - should give her confidence heading into next week's LPGA Championship and the remainder of the season.
7. BRITTANY LINCICOME
67-69-66-70 - 272 (T3)
Twitter: @Brittany1golf
Lincicome put together another huge week of golf, finishing in a tie for third place with a final-round 70 during the State Farm Classic. The big hitter entered the tournament fresh off her victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and looked destined for repeat trip to the winner's trophy presentation. However, Lincicome struggled mightily off the tee Sunday, hitting just 8 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation in what had to be a disappointing round of 70 on a day when scores were low throughout the field. Lincicome will be one of the favorites in Rochester next week and, with the important addition of former LPGA player A.J. Eathorne on her bag, a contender for Rolex Player of the Year honors.
6. PAULA CREAMER
68-68-69-67 - 272 (T3)
Twitter: @ThePCreamer
Creamer was once again on her game the entire week, highlighted by her 5-under 67 on Sunday to earn herself a share of third place. Arguably the Tour's most popular golfer, Creamer went had just two bogeys the entire tournament, including an opening 44-hole stretch of par or better. Her fairways hit (49 of 56) and greens in regulation (63 of 72) for the tournament were brilliant, but her putting was less to be desired as she needed 30 or more putts in each of the opening three rounds, likely costing her a shot at the crown. Creamer is another big favorite to win next week's LPGA Championship, but she's going to have to improve off on the putting surface (she's tied for 68th on the tour in greens in regulation at 1.84) if she has any chance at winning another major championship.
5. VICKY HURST
70-72-70-66 - 278 (T19)
Twitter: @TheVickyHurst
Hurst received my vote for Sunday's best round, with her 6-under 66 that gave her a share of 19th place after starting the day tied for the 47th in the State Farm Classic. What was most impressive was how she reached that score. Hurst was a medicore 9 for 14 in fairways hit, but made up for her errant tee shots with her putter and iron play. The American wound up 14 for 18 on fairways hit and needed just 26 putts during her round, en route to her bogey-free 66 at Panther Creek. Look for Hurst to build off her performance this past week and stay in contention in Rochester as she seeks her first tour victory.
4. SE RI PAK
69-68-68-68 - 273 (T5)
Pak was on her game all week at the State Farm Classic, capped by a 4-under 68 on Sunday that helped her grab a share of fifth place in what has turned into a comeback season of sorts for the legend. The Hall of Famer has been battling some health issues, making her effort even more impressive. Fatigue seems to have been a factor for Pak and might have kept her from getting close to eventual champion Yani Tseng in the tournament. Pak struggled on Nos. 17 and 18 all four days, going 4 over on those combined eight holes. However, her overall showing and the fact she's missed just one cut in eight starts signifies Pak should definitely be a contender entering next week's major championship.
3. MINDY KIM
64-67-69-73 - 273 (T5)
Twitter: @MindyKim89
What started out as such a promising tournament had to be nothing but a major disappointment for the rising star. Kim put together a magical run early on, capturing her first 36-hole advantage in her young professional career. The American kept things going well, even as the stars moved closer to her on the leaderboard. Kim wound up with a hard-earned, 3-under 69, putting her a stroke behind leader Tseng going into the final round. However, Kim showed her youth and seemed to let the pressure of playing in the final group with Tseng get to her as she was anything but spectacular Sunday when the intensity picked up. She sealed her unfortunate fate midway through the final round, going 4 over during a six-hole span en route to her share of fifth place. Kim, my outright pick to win the State Farm Classic before the event began, is destined for greatness on the tour. She will win this season and make a ton of noise weekly if she continues to play at this level. Kim surely gained a ton of experience playing with Tseng and leading the field for nearly 54 holes. Hopefully, that carries over next week in Rochester and the rest of the 2011 campaign.
2. CRISTIE KERR
70-67-66-67 - 270 (2)
What else can say about Kerr other than the fact she's the best American golfer and sits comfortably with Tsang as the top two players in the world. Kerr was on her game Sunday, firing a 5-under 67 to finish just three strokes behind Tseng at the State Farm Classic. The event's 2010 champion, Kerr was bogey free Sunday and seemed to find every green in regulation (16 of 18 actually) as she chased Tseng throughout the tournament. But as strong as her effort was, Kerr will be the first to tell you she left some birdies on the course due to some inconsistent putting. She needed 30 putts in the final round, showing her putter wasn't at its best and making her 66 look that more impressive. Had she made a few more of those putts, a round of 63 or 64 would have been likely and another championship in her trophy cabinet. Kerr enters the LPGA Championship as the odds-on favorite and rightfully so. She destroyed the field last year on her way to an impressive, record-breaking 12-stroke victory for her second major title. Combine that with the fact Kerr has finished second in three consecutive tournaments this season and you have a player primed to pick up another major championship.
1. YANI TSENG
67-66-66-68 - 267 (1)
Twitter: @YaniTseng
Tseng clearly showed the reason why she's the top-ranked player in the world with her impressive victory. She played the final 39 holes without a bogey and went 12 under during that stretch, cruising to her second Tour win of the season. Tseng was consistenly long off the tee, averaging 278.13 yards on her drives. That allowed her to shorten the course, setting her up for short iron shots and giving her plenty of chances at birdie. She wound up with 22 birdies, an eagle and just three bogeys during the tournament to record her seventh top-10 finish in nine Tour events this season. Tseng, along with Kerr, enters the LPGA Championship as one of the prime contenders for the crown. Don't be surprised if the Chinese Taipei star comes through with another scintillating performance for her fourth major crown.
Note: All photos courtesy of The Associated Press
