Minjee Lee of Australia claimed her first LPGA Tour victory, closing out a 6-under-par 65 in a Monday finish to win the rain-delayed Kingsmill Championship by two strokes over So Yeon Ryu of South Korea at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.
The 18-year-old Lee, who became the seventh player in LPGA Tour history to win before her 19th birthday, had a four-stroke lead when she returned on Monday morning but three-putted for a bogey before finishing with two straight pars.
“I three putted the 16th and I was like ugh, let’s make two pars and get out of here,” said Lee, who missed Monday qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open but got into our national championship by winning at Kingsmill. “I was nervous but I’m glad I could get the win.
“I didn’t think this moment would come this year, so I’m stoked to have won. Just because I won in my rookie year, I feel like I could probably do it again. It just kind of gives me confidence that I can play out here and win out here.”
Ryu, the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open champion, took second by making three straight birdies through No. 17 to wrap up a 67.
Alison Lee, 20, from Valencia and UCLA, closed with a 69 and was three strokes back in third, followed another shot back by 54-hole leader Perrine Delacour of France, who came in at 71.
Paula Creamer of Pleasanton shot 70 and wound up five strokes behind in a tie for fifth with Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who totaled 68, and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea, who also had a 68.
Candie Kung of Fountain Valley and USC posted a score of 66 to finish seven strokes back in a tie for eighth with Lexi Thompson, who had a 71, and Catriona Matthew of Scotland, who finished at 66.
