Katie Lu Wins 4th New Jersey Women's Open in Playoff
SUMMIT, N.J. – It took 38 holes to decide a champion, but former New Jersey Women's Amateur champion and current professional Katie Lu once again found herself lifting a trophy.
Lu battled back from an early deficit before defeating amateur Claire Lu, a University of Pennsylvania student-athlete, in a two-hole aggregate playoff Wednesday to capture the 4th New Jersey Women's Open Championship at Canoe Brook Country Club. The victory earned Lu the championship trophy and the winner's share of the $20,000 purse — $6,000.
"It feels awesome," Lu said. "I started my professional career last year at this event and finished up just short. To be able to come back and finally get the win, it just feels great."
After carrying a one-shot lead into the final round, Lu carded a 1-over-par 73 to finish regulation tied with Claire Lu after 36 holes, setting the stage for the playoff.
The championship appeared to be slipping away early.
Beginning the day with a one-shot advantage, Lu stumbled out of the gate with bogeys on two of her opening three holes, allowing fellow professional Ami Gianchandani to move in front.
But Lu never strayed far from contention.
"Birdies on eight and nine felt really good just because I got into a really slow start," Lu added. "I think I was two over through seven and then finally got back to even par at the turn."
Claire Lu, meanwhile, made her move with birdies on Nos. 11 and 12, while Gianchandani remained in control until her first bogey of the day on the par-3 14th created a three-way tie between the two professionals and the Penn standout.
The drama only intensified down the stretch.
On the par-4 16th, Katie Lu stuffed her approach shot to within three feet and converted the birdie putt to reclaim sole possession of the lead at 4-under par.
The lead was short-lived.
Both Katie Lu and Claire Lu flew the green on the par-4 17th. Claire Lu energized the gallery by holing out her chip for par, while Katie Lu settled for bogey, pulling the pair closer.
The par-5 18th delivered one final twist.
Claire Lu found the rough off the tee before her layup settled into a fairway bunker. Katie Lu split the fairway and elected to go for the green in two, but her attempt came up just short. Claire Lu converted her up-and-down for par, while Katie Lu narrowly lipped out her par putt, forcing a two-hole aggregate playoff.
"And then it was a bit of a roller coaster out there, just a lot of pars on the back nine," Lu said. "Finally on 16 I was able to make a birdie, hit a really good wedge shot and then unfortunately finished bogey-bogey. Ended up in a playoff and I'm lucky that it went my way."
The playoff shifted immediately in Lu's favor.
Both players found the fairway on the opening playoff hole, No. 10. Claire Lu's approach trickled just off the green, while Katie Lu capitalized, rolling in a birdie putt to take a one-shot advantage. The pair matched scores on the second playoff hole, No. 12, making Lu's birdie on the opener the deciding blow and securing her second professional victory, adding to her ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour win earlier this season.
"Definitely had some nerves out there," Lu said. "Especially when you're just right there and you know you just have to finish strong, whether it be the last few holes or some playoff holes.
"I think I've been in this position a ton already this season. This is my third playoff, and to already know what it feels like to have that pressure and know what it takes to get it done. I was able to take from my toolbox from my last few events, and it worked out."
The demanding North Course at Canoe Brook, which played 6,191-yards on Wednesday, served as a worthy championship venue, but for Lu, returning home to compete was just as meaningful as the course itself.
"It was a no-brainer, honestly, to play in the New Jersey Women's Open," Lu said. "New Jersey Golf always does an incredible job hosting these tournaments, and we're always on incredible venues too. Canoe Brook this week was in great condition.”
The victory carried extra meaning as Lu celebrated in front of family and friends on familiar ground. Lu, 23, spends most of her time on the road competing on the ANNIKA WAPT as a ANNIKA Foundation and Old Barnwell Development Program Ambassador.
"It's nice to be home in New Jersey. I had my brother caddying for me, which made it so much more fun out there. On our last hole, we were talking about Five Guys and Chili's burgers—just talking about nothing golf-related—and that really helped my nerves.”
"It just means so much having my family here because they're not able to travel all the time, especially this past season playing on the ANNIKA Tour,” Lu continued. “For them to be here and for me to win too is just the cherry on top."
Claire Lu finished runner-up overall while claiming low amateur honors after an impressive week in her first New Jersey Women's Open as a Penn student-athlete. Fellow amateur Alyssa Roland, fresh off a runner-up finish in last week's New Jersey Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, shared third place with Gianchandani.
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