SA’s Reto races to top 10 finish in Florida

South Africa’s Paula Reto to grab her first top 10 finish for 2016 in the Coates Golf Championship, while countrywoman Lee-Anne Pace tied for 22nd at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club on Saturday.

Coming off a tie for 54^th with Pace and rookie Bertine Strauss in the LPGA’s season opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, Reto fired rounds of 82, 69 and 70 to move within six shots Ha Na Jang from South Korea and world number one Lydia Ko from New Zealand, who shared the 54-hole lead on 11 under 205.

Pace, meanwhile, added a third round 70 to a pair of 72s to get to one under 215.

Reto signed off with a 71 to tie for ninth on six under alongside American trio Austin Ernst, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, while Pace returned a final round 70 to join PK Kongkraphan from Thailand and American Stacy Lewis on three under 285.

Jang closed out a two stroke victory on 11 under 277 over Brook Henderson from the United States with a final round 75.

This marked a career first LPGA Tour victory for the 23-year-old Jang from Seoul, who recorded six career victories on the KLPGA in five seasons before making the jump to the LPGA in 2015.

Ko slipped to a tie for third on eight under after a closing 75.

SELECTED RESULTS
1st        277 Ha Na Jang KOR 65-72-68-72
2nd^{           Â}  279 Brooke M. Henderson USA 70-70-67-72
T9         282 Paula Reto RSA 72-69-70-71; Austin Ernst USA 73-68-72-69; Lexi Thompson USA 69 70-72-71; Alison Lee 72-72-66-72
T22       285 Lee-Anne Pace RSA 72-72-71-70; Stacy Lewis USA 74-71-74-66; PK Kongkraphan 71-74-69-71

PHOTO – Paula Reto; credit Justin Klusener