(September 6, 2024) - On a spectacular day in Sandwich, Massachusetts, the team of Wendy Ward and Angela Stanford carded an 18-hole score of 60 at The Ridge Club to win the 7th annual BJ’s Charity Championship presented by Kimberly-Clark. The talented twosome edged runners-up Trish Johnson and Laura Davies by one shot in an exciting finish that came down to the last hole in this unique one-day event played in a two-person scramble format.
It was their first time playing as partners in a team event, though Ward and Stanford have known each other for years since appearing together on the 2003 Solheim Cup Team USA roster. Ward teed it up in previous BJ’s Charity Championship events; this was Stanford’s first look at The Ridge.
“I had a very good guide,” said Stanford, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “Wendy knew where she was going. It’s a tricky golf course. There are a lot of doglegs. It’s hard to play and guide, but Wendy did it.”
Ward was happy to show Stanford the way by hitting first, a strategy the team held to for the entire round.
(Photo - Tyler Anderson/Legends of the LPGA) - Angela Stanford tees off in the BJ's Charity Championship as playing partner Wendy Ward looks on.
“This is a tough course if you’ve never seen it,” said Ward, who won four times on the LPGA Tour before retiring in 2013. “I know Angela’s game. It’s a little different distance than mine now, so it was fun to be able to send her and have her trust me. She didn’t really know where it was going to put her, but we were both like, 'let’s have fun with it.'”
The twosome kept their order through the greens, with Ward putting first.
“Wendy made a lot of putts,” said Stanford. The pair got off to a hot start, making birdies on five of the first six holes.
“I feel like my pace was good,” noted Ward. “Even if I didn’t make the putt, I felt like I gave her a good look and freed her up to make a good run at it. There were some tricky pin placements today. We hit a number of good putts that just didn’t go in.”
(Photo - Tyler Anderson/Legends of the LPGA) - Wendy Ward putts for eagle on the 18th green.
After the turn Ward and Stanford made a big move with three consecutive birdies on holes 10, 11 and 12 to get it to 8 under par. They stalled a bit with a par on 13 and were in danger of taking a step back on the par 3 14th when they both rolled their birdie attempts four feet past the hole, leaving themselves a challenging left to right putt.
“We could have gone south there,” said Stanford.
“I missed it coming back,” said Ward, “so she had to make it for par. When she did, I think that kept the momentum going.”
And it kept them within striking distance of 2023 defending champions Jane Blalock and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who were on the 18th hole attempting their 10th birdie of the day but failed to convert. They secured the clubhouse lead at 9 under par.
(Photo - Tyler Anderson/Legends of the LPGA) - Defending champions Jane Blalock and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc posted the early clubhouse lead at 9 under par.
Ward and Stanford then carded another birdie on the par 5 15th to move into a tie with Blalock and Meunier-Lebouc. Meanwhile, Trish Johnson and Laura Davies – playing in the same foursome as Ward and Stanford - also made birdie on hole 15, moving themselves to within one shot of the lead.
“That was the time in the round when we really needed that birdie,” said Stanford.
“Angela hit a great tee shot,” said Ward. “It’s hard to pick a line on that hole.”
Both teams made birdie on the par 4 16th, giving Ward and Stanford the outright lead at 10 under par with Johnson and Davies sitting at 9 under with two holes to play. Ward and Stanford managed a par on the par 3 17th while Johnson and Davies carded a critical birdie, and the two teams were suddenly locked at 10 under par going into the par 5 finishing hole.
Both teams went for the green in two on the par 5 18th. Their shots over the water came to rest with lengthy putts near the back of the green. Trish Johnson’s opening eagle try finished well short of the hole; Davies then overcompensated and rolled it well past.
Ward’s 30-foot eagle attempt found the circle of love and rolled to within two feet of the hole. Stanford followed it up with another beautifully struck putt to about the same distance.
“That putt had like four breaks in it,” chuckled Ward. “When you get too far away from the hole out here you start seeing some funny stuff.”
(Photo - Tyler Anderson/Legends of the LPGA) - Laura Davies and Trish Johnson react to a missed opportunity on the finishing hole of the BJ's Charity Championship.
When Johnson and Davies failed to convert for birdie, Ward stepped up and drained the short putt that put their twosome on top at 11 under. It was Ward’s first win on the Legends of the LPGA – and quietly marked Stanford’s sixth win in six starts in Legends sanctioned events, including her back-to-back wins in the 2023 and 2024 Senior LPGA Championship.
“I know now, after being here, why this event is such a hit,” said Stanford, who is also a major championship winner on the LPGA Tour. “It’s so well-supported by BJ’s and all their vendors and it feels like everyone here really loves women’s golf. I get it now, and I know why people love it.”
A three-way tie for third at 9 under par included Blalock and Meunier-Lebouc along with the teams of Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst and 2022 BJ's Charity Championship winners Pat Bradley and Jamie Fischer.
(Photo - Tyler Anderson/Legends of the LPGA) - Juli Inkster gets a high give from Pat Bradley on the 18th green of the BJ's Charity Championship as their teams finish tied for 3rd.
Click here to see the final scoreboard.
PHOTO CREDIT: Tyler Anderson / Legends of the LPGA
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