WICHITA, Kansas — Emma Bunch grinded out a final-round 3-over 72 to win the Heritage Classic, the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, at 15-under 273 at Rolling Hills Country Club. The victory is Bunch’s fourth in her last five starts and lifts her to the top of the tour’s season-long standings.
Bunch built her cushion early, opening 67-65-69 to take a commanding lead into the final round before a difficult Sunday tested her down the stretch. She finished two shots clear of runner-up Tiffany Le, who shot 72 of her own to finish at 13-under 275.
Emma Bunch carrying the Heritage Classic trophy on the 1st tee box.
Reflecting on a summer that turned into a breakout season, Bunch said the run still doesn’t feel real. “It’s incredible that I’ve been able to win four out of five. That was not like anything I would have ever imagined,” she said. “I was just going into the summer just gonna try pro golf and see how it goes, and it’s been pretty incredible.”
Sunday’s final round was a battle from the start. “I think it all kind of started yesterday. I was a little off, and that just kind of led into today,” Bunch said. “I think Tiff was playing great, but I was just trying to play the golf course. I wasn’t really playing her. I knew what she was at, but I was mostly just focused on what to do myself, and I was not doing a good job.” Bunch steadied herself over the closing nine to hold on. “On the back nine, I was able to kind of limit my mistakes. I didn’t make a lot of birdies, but I made enough.”
The win also vaults Bunch past friend and fellow competitor Katie Lu to finish No. 1 in the tour’s season-long standings. “The way this tour is, we’re all a family, so it’s great to be able to beat all my friends. That’s what we all want to do. We all want everyone to succeed, but of course we want to come out on top,” Bunch said. “It’s just been really fun to be out here this season. I’m so grateful for everyone’s just kind of embracing me. Even though I came in a little late, still having to finish my degree, it’s been really fun, and it’s been great to come out on top.” A New Mexico State product, Bunch closed with a nod to her alma mater: “Go Aggies!”
Emma Bunch gets showered with water by her fellow competitors after her win on 18 green.
Le’s runner-up finish capped a season in which she has been Bunch’s closest challenger, including a five-hole playoff loss to Bunch at last month’s Colorado Championship. Angela Heo took third at 12-under 276 after the low round of the week, a final-round 68, jumping three spots up the board.
Alison Muirhead, of Scotland, and Zoe Slaughter tied for fourth at 9-under 279. Jensen Castle and Jasmine Lew shared sixth at 8-under 280, with Castle making the field’s biggest final-round move, climbing seven spots on a closing 68.
A crowded group of six tied for eighth at 6-under 282: Kate Villegas, Marta Lopez, LoraLie Cowart, Ana Jimenez, Milagros Chaves and Rachel Rohanna. Villegas and Lopez each climbed five spots in the final round, while Cowart’s third-round 65 was among the week’s best scores. Caroline Patterson stood alone in 14th at 5-under 283 after the largest jump of the week, surging 13 spots with a closing 68.
A trio of Isabella Rawl, Gabby Barker and Megan Propeck tied for 15th at 4-under 284 to close out the top of the leaderboard.
The Heritage Classic, presented by Keystone Solid Surfaces, served as the season-ending Tour Championship for the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour, which serves as a developmental pathway for professional women’s golfers to the Epson Tour and LPGA Tour. The top two finishers, Bunch and Le, earn exemptions into the Epson Tour’s Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout in El Dorado, Arkansas.
Travis Humphrey
ANNIKA WAPT Media & Communications
travis@kgsportsco.com
