NZ Golfer's overseas update

Three Kiwi professionals playing abroad have all notched up top 20 finishes on their respective tours around the globe.

DALY CITY, CA - JUNE 13: Lydia Ko of New Zealand hits a shot on the 3rd hole hole during the final round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club on June 13, 2021 in Daly City, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

DALY CITY, CA - JUNE 13: Lydia Ko of New Zealand hits a shot on the 3rd hole hole during the final round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club on June 13, 2021 in Daly City, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Lydia Ko spearheaded the trio with her tie for ninth place at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in California. She finished at six-under for the tournament following rounds of 72, 70, 70, and 70.

Matilda Castren took out the event at 14-under.

The top 10 finish also means the 24-year-old climbs her way into the top position on the season-long points race The Race to CME Globe. Ko has accumulated 1,635 points over the 10 events she’s placed so far and is 72 points clear of Nelly Korda.

She will look to extend her lead at this week’s Meijer LPGA Classic.

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - JUNE 10: Ryan Fox of New Zealand tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of The Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika at Vallda Golf & Country Club on June 10, 2021 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - JUNE 10: Ryan Fox of New Zealand tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of The Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika at Vallda Golf & Country Club on June 10, 2021 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Ryan Fox has finished in a tie for 14th at the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika on the European Tour over the weekend to be the second Kiwi finishing inside the top 20.

Fox has carded rounds of 69, 67, 73, and 70 to finish at nine-under par, eight shots back of Jonathan Caldwell who won his maiden European Tour title.

The event mirrors the mixed-gender format of the Jennian Homes Charles Tour where men and women compete in the same field for the same prize purse and the same trophy.

The result means Fox climbs a further two spots on the Race to Dubai standings into 92nd.

Josh Geary missed the cut by two after rounds of 69 and 74, and he falls four places on the Race to Dubai into 149th.

The top 115 retain their cards for next year.

Danny Lee has finished in a tie for 19th place at the Palmetto Championship on the PGA Tour.

Palmetto Championship at Congaree - Final RoundRIDGELAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - JUNE 13: Danny Lee of New Zealand plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Palmetto Championship at Congaree on June 13, 2021 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Palmetto Championship at Congaree - Final Round

RIDGELAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - JUNE 13: Danny Lee of New Zealand plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Palmetto Championship at Congaree on June 13, 2021 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Lee fired rounds of 67, 73, 67, and 71 to finish six-under for the event and finish five shots back of Garrick Higgo, who won his first event in only his second start.


The finish also means the 30-year-old climbs eight places on the FedEx Cup into 170th. The top 125 at the end of the season all retain their cards for next year.

Finally, Julianne Alvarez has finished in a tie for 40th at the Island Resort Championship on the Symetra Tour.

Alvarez has shot rounds of 70, 70, and 73 to finish at three-under par.