Lake Merced play is pleasing to Minjee Lee

Lydia
Ko’s affinity for Lake Merced is well-documented — Sunday’s victory was her third LPGA triumph there — but Minjee Lee also knows her way around the place.

Lee, a 21-year-old Australian with three tour wins, won the 2012 U.S. Girls Junior at Lake Merced. She posted solid finishes in previous LPGA starts there, too, tying for 18th in 2015 and 11th in 2016.

Then Lee shot 68-68 on the weekend to force Sunday’s sudden-death playoff with Ko. So why does Lee’s game mesh so well with Lake Merced’s twisting fairways and challenging greens?

“My iron play is pretty solid, so I think that helps around here,” she said.