Inkster, one stroke away from the record: Close to qualifying in LPGA at 65 years old.

Juli Inkster close to making LPGA history

Legendary golfer Juli Inkster, 65, and a Hall of Famer, competed in The Standard Portland Classic seeking to refine her game before the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Although she was close to setting an LPGA record, she ultimately fell short. Inkster started the tournament with a round of 69 strokes, showing a performance that positioned her to become the oldest player to make the cut in LPGA history. However, a series of bogeys in the second round led her to sign a card of 74 strokes. With a cumulative score of 1 under par (143 strokes), Inkster was one stroke away from making the cut for the weekend.

“I love JoAnne Carner,” Inkster commented. “This shows my passion for the game. I love it. I’m happy to have played this week. When I signed up, I thought, ‘What are you doing?'”

Juli Inkster

Inkster shared that she enjoyed playing with Hannah Green and Stacy Lewis, and praised the talent of the young golfers. She highlighted that golf is in a good moment and expressed her joy at participating in the event. This was the first time Inkster had competed in an LPGA event since 2022. She was surprised by the recognition she received from the younger players.

Inkster admitted to feeling disappointed by the result, especially due to her performance in the final holes. Despite this, the golfer assured that she does not regret having participated in the tournament, as it served as preparation for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, which will be held the following week at the San Diego Country Club. “I think it was really good for me to play, win or lose next week,” Inkster said. “I’m glad I put myself to the test.”