Hannah Green of Australia didn’t make a birdie until the 15th hole in the final round, but it was enough.
The 26-year-old Green made a routine par on the second playoff hole to beat Xiyu Lin of China and claim her third victory on the LPGA Tour on the JM Eagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country in Los Angles, within view of the famed “Hollywood” sign.
Aditi Ashok of India dropped out of the playoff with a par on the first extra hole when her 15-foot birdie putt lipped out of the hole after Green and Lin made birdies.
“It’s been a long few years,” said Green, who claimed her third LPGA Tour victory, but first since the 2019 Cambria Portland Classic. “I was playing well last year, but getting across the line’s as a winner been really difficult. I’m proud of myself. I’m really happy.
“I said to my team and my caddie: ‘I feel like once I get over the hurdle of having my third win that that will just open doors.’ I was really nervous today. I hadn’t been in that position for quite some time and to especially be in a playoff to win a tournament. So when I holed that four-footer (on the first playoff hole), I felt like I was literally shaking like crazy and you could see it visually.
“But I don’t really know. Maybe I’ll have a look at the footage.”
Green, who has won 10 times as a professional, sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation to finish at 68-69-69-69—275, nine-under-par, to earn her spot in the playoff, while Lin totaled 86-74-66-67—275, and Ashok, the first-round leader, wound up at 66-70-72-67—275.
| Said Ashok: “I’ve never played in this position on the LPGA Tour, so to be near the lead on the first day, kind of stay there the whole tournament, was amazing. The competition is just so deep out here. Ten people have a good tournament but only one can win. I’m happy with the way I played.” Ayaka Furue of Japan shot-69-70-72-65—276 to tie for fourth with Ruoning Yin of China, who shot 68-73-68-57—276, while top-ranked Nelly Korda finished at 69-71-70-67—277 to tie for sixth with Hae Ran Ryu of South Korea, who carded a score of 67-72-67-71—277, and third-round leader Cheyenne Knight, who wound up at 68-69-67-73—277. Alison Lee of Valencia and USC shot 67-71-71-69—278, to tie for ninth with Jaravee Moonchat of Thailand, who came in at 69-72-70-67—278. Fifth-ranked Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand tied for 33rd after making only one birdie in a 73, while third-ranked Jin Young Ko collected six birdies in a 70 to wind up in a tie for 44th that included sixth-ranked Minjee Lee of Australia, who had two late birdies in a second straight 72, and 10th-ranked Georgia Hall of England, who had three birdies in a third straight 71. For complete results, visit: https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/jm-eagle-la-championship/leaderboard |
