Jun 7, 2025 
LPGA Legends Michelle McGann and Laura Diaz knocked on the door with a runner-up finish in last year’s Woodford Legends Invitational presented by Suran Systems, a 36-hole team event featuring two-person teams of Legends playing a scramble format.
In today’s opening round of the 3rd annual tournament hosted by The Woodford Club, they blew the door clean off, combining to card 14 birdies in 18 holes – including a train of eight in a row – on their way to a blistering 57 and a one-shot lead over the teams of Laura Davies and Trish Johnson and Leta Lindley and Suzy Whaley going into tomorrow’s final round.
“We missed a 40-foot putt for eagle on 17 by one revolution,” said Diaz, who proceeded to drain a 25-footer on the 18th hole for the pair’s final birdie of the day.
Laura Diaz reacts to sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole at the Woodford Legends Invitational.
“You gave that last one just enough,” smiled McGann, a seven-time LPGA Tour winner seeking her first win on the Legends of the LPGA. Diaz, twice a winner on the LPGA circuit, won a Legends team event with LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Jan Stephenson in 2021.
“It’s all about having fun,” added McGann. “We made some great putts out there. And I think if you look good, you feel good, you are going to play good.”
McGann and Diaz went out in 28, posting eight birdies in nine holes to set a scorching pace, but their lead over the talent-packed Legends field never extended beyond two shots.
“Today we laid down some smoke, tomorrow it’s all fire. We’ll be bringing some heat,” said Diaz.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Laura Davies and longtime teammate Trish Johnson, a three-time senior major championship winner, fired a 28 on the back nine to post a 58 and close within one shot of McGann and Diaz. Johnson drained a 10-footer for birdie on 18 to secure the T2 spot.
Trish Johnson drains a birdie putt on the 18th hole as teammate Laura Davies looks on.
“Laura hit it fabulously all day off the tee and a lot of really good iron shots,” said Johnson. “My putting was exceptional.”
While the pair ham-and-egged it “perfectly” in Johnson’s estimation, she’d like to see herself contributing more from tee to green tomorrow.
“It was great to see Laura play like that. It’s just gorgeous,” said Johnson. “Hopefully I can be a little bit better tomorrow. What I love about this event is the play is so impressive, isn’t it? You have to shoot 57, 59 to be in it. You have to hit the shots and hole the putts. If she plays as well as she did today and I can play a bit better tomorrow, we might have a chance.”
Teammates Leta Lindley and Suzy Whaley sit T2 after the opening round.
Suzy Whaley and Leta Lindley made six birdies and an eagle on the back nine to vault themselves up the leaderboard into a tie for second with Davies and Johnson.
“We finished strong,” said Lindley, the reigning U.S. Senior Women’s Open champion. “We also left a couple out there that we would like to have back. When I got a little squirrely, Suzy stepped up and hit great shots and we made a lot of putts, so it was awesome.”
“Leta stuck it with her wedges all day, which was fabulous,” said Whaley, the first woman to qualify for and play in a PGA TOUR event (2002).
“I’m happy that we’re close,” added Lindley. “Michelle and Laura are a tough duo, so I’m happy to be right there in it with a chance tomorrow.”
“Now they’ve got to pay attention to us, too,” smiled Whaley.
Defending champions Catriona Matthew and Becky Morgan fired their 3rd consecutive 59 on the Woodford Club track, good enough this time around for an overnight T4 ranking alongside the team of Rosie Jones and Michele Redman.
Kentucky amateurs Elizabeth Eberle and C.A. Carter lead the Amateur Division.
Kentucky area standouts Elizabeth Eberle and C.A. Carter opened with a 61 and are leading the Amateur Division by one shot at 10 under par.
Half the Legends field is within five shots of the lead. It promises to be another thrilling finish at the Woodford Legends Invitational.
For current leaderboard, click here.
For pairings and tee times for tomorrow’s final round set for Sunday, June 8, click here.
Jun 6, 2025 
