Hailee Cooper wins Heritage Classic with blistering final round: ‘My personal record’

Hailee Cooper certainly saved her best for last.

The 2023 Texas A&M graduate entered the final round of the Heritage Classic, held at Rolling Hills Country Club, at 8-under, then crushed that total with a 9-under 63 to win the event. Cooper shot a four-day total of 271 (-17) winning by four strokes over second-place Lauren Lehigh (formerly of New Mexico), who shot a 13-under 275.

Mary Parsons (Indiana University) shot 276 (-12) to finish in third.

Cooper set the tone for her final round with a birdie-eagle start, then three more birdies through the first six holes.

“That was my personal record, ever,” Cooper said of shooting a 63, an event release noted. “I got on the first tee and felt very confident with my driver. I ripped it down the center and thought, ‘I’m just going to swing it like that the rest of the day.’ I made my putt on No. 1 and I felt I could putt like that the rest of the day.”

Cooper claimed the $20,000 winner’s prize. She has won three WAPT events in four outings this year. With the win, Cooper earned enough points for an entry into LPGA Qualifying.

The 36-hole cut was a 3-over par score of 147, which left 50 players alive for the weekend’s conclusion to the championship event with a season-high $100,000 purse.

Topeka native Rachel Stous, the only local golfer to make the cut, finished 33rd, shooting a four-round total of 291 (+3).

This story was originally published August 4, 2024 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Hailee Cooper wins Heritage Classic with blistering final round: ‘My personal record’."