(Sandwich, Mass.) - Playing in the first pairing, Jane Blalock and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc opened with seven birdies in the first seven holes at today’s BJ’s Charity Championship presented by Kimberly-Clark and they were eight under par at the turn. By the time the last putt dropped in this unique team event featuring 24 Legends of the LPGA at The Ridge Club, Blalock and Meunier-Lebouc’s final score of 59 was enough to secure the win – one that was four years in the making.
The two have teamed up since 2019, but today they executed their game plan perfectly.
“Patricia’s ball-striking was just phenomenal,” said Blalock, who invited Meunier-Lebouc to be her partner at a reunion for past champions of the Kraft Nabisco (now known as The Chevron Championship). “I wanted to find a way to contribute, so my goal was to make putts,” added Blalock.
And make putts she did. Blalock sunk an 8-footer on the first hole for birdie and a 10-footer on the second to drop the pair quickly to two under. “It set the tone,” said Blalock, a 27-time LPGA Tour champion. “You keep seeing the ball go in.”
Blalock continued to drain birdie putts until a 35-footer on hole 7 just burned the edge. No problem. Meunier-Lebouc curled it in for the team’s seventh consecutive birdie.
“That putt was so delicate,” said Blalock.
From the get-go, Meunier-Lebouc would hit first, and Blalock would putt first. “We never changed that,” said Meunier-Lebouc, who posted a T6 finish at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open last month in Portland, Ore. “We’re both perfectionists who like to know the plan. It balanced out really well today.”
Just one shot back were 2019 champions Rosie Jones and Michele Redman (60), who had a chance to force a playoff on the par 5 18th with an eagle, but Redman’s attempt to go for it found the water and the two settled for a wedge in from Jones’ position and a clutch birdie putt to secure a T2 finish with the team of Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst.
“We know each other’s games really well,” said Redman of their consistently competitive showings. “We kind of know what the other one is going to do. Rosie never gives up, and I just trust her. I know she’s going to make putts when she needs to.”
Blalock and Meunier-Lebouc picked up $15,000 apiece for the win, and of course, the hardware.
“Jane made so many putts,” said Meunier-Lebouc. “When you can rely on such a good partner, it’s just an incredible feeling. I’m proud of us today. It’s pure happiness.”
For results, visit LegendsoftheLPGA.com.
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PHOTO CREDIT – Rick Sharp