Paula Reto will look for her third top-10 of the LPGA season when she tees up at the Arkansas Championship this week. Last year she tied for 13th place on nine-under-par at Pinnacle Country Club, six shots behind winner Na Yeon Choi.
Reto has since climbed to 117th in the women’s world ranking and booked a spot for the Rio Olympics coming up in August. She’s establishing herself as an LPGA regular and current ranks 54th on the tour’s earning list with nine cuts made in 13 starts. She’s highlighted her season with ties for ninth at the Coates Golf Championship and JTBC Founders Cup.
Last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic she tied for 56th place with rounds of 65, 70, 77, and 71. She’ll need to remove big scores in order to contend.
This week the $2-million tournament celebrates its 10th anniversary with a field that includes Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson.
Reto has been making inroads on the LPGA Tour throughout the season. Her fond memories of a top-15 in Arkansas last year could kindle the big result she’s been looking for.
World number 38 Lee-Anne Pace will also tee up at Pinnacle Country Club this week. The top-ranked South African was sole second at the Swinging Skirts Classic in April this year after a dominant spell on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and will be determined to win a second career LPGA title.
Ashleigh Simon and Bertine Strauss round off the local ladies due to tee off from Thursday.
