[Photo: Ladies European Tour]<\/p>\n
West Australian Whitney Hillier carried the memory of fellow WPGA Tour of Australasia member Jessica Bang<\/a> to a co-runner-up finish on the Ladies European Tour.<\/p>\n Playing on a medical exemption as she works her way back from a battle with long-COVID that threatened to end her career, Hillier followed up rounds of 66 and 67 with a closing 68 to share second place at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open at Golfpark Holzh\u00e4usern. England\u2019s Eleanor Givens took the title by a stroke thanks to a birdie at the penultimate hole.<\/p>\n RELATED: Australian tour pro Jessica Bang passes away after brain haemorrhage in Thailand<\/a><\/p>\n The 35-year-old Hillier is drawing extra inspiration this week in honour of 18-year-old Bang, who tragically passed after suffering a brain haemorrhage while preparing for the KLPGA 2026 International Qualifying Tournament in Thailand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m playing for her this week.\u201d \ud83d\udc99<\/p>\n Whitney Hillier is playing in honour of fellow @WPGATour<\/a> member Jessica Bang this week who tragically passed away on Thursday at just 18-years-old.<\/p>\n Bang competed three times on the LET in Australia earlier this year and all of us are deeply\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/4dBNc57es3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In a statement released on Friday, the WPGA Tour of Australasia expressed its great sadness that a young player of such promise could lose her life so suddenly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community is deeply saddened by the passing of young Tour member Jessica Bang in Thailand,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica\u2019s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Tied for eighth at WPGA Qualifying School last December, Bang played three of the LET co-sanctioned events in Australia in March having won the Women\u2019s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale in just her fifth professional start in February.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was entered to play KLPGA Q-School in Thailand and she\u2019s not with us anymore,\u201d Hillier said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know her very well, but I met her through the Aussie summer this year. Such a sweet player and had already won as well.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was on a good start already to her career and it just puts things into perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful that I\u2019m fit and healthy and I\u2019m playing for her this week.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess the putts are dropping for her.\u201d<\/p>\n The WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community is deeply saddened by the passing of young Tour member Jessica Bang in Thailand.<\/p>\n Jessica was an outstanding young talent who made a significant impression in her short time on the Tour, winning the Ford\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/iMNQEqp7y7<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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