Sorenstam sisters, move over for the Jutanugarn sisters.
Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand captured her first victory on the LPGA Tour, shooting 3-under-par 68 in the final round to beat South Koreans Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park by two strokes in the inaugural HUGEL-JTBC Championship at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
The 23-year-old Jutanugarn joined her sibling, Ariya, 22, who has won seven times, as the only sister act other than Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam of Sweden to win on the circuit.
Annika won 72 times on the LPGA Tour, while Charlotta claimed only the 2000 Standard Register Ping.
“I think my sister cried more than me,” Aryia said of their celebration on the 18th green when it was over. “It fees great. It took a lot of patience, but finally my dream came true. I really can’t tell you what I feel right now.
“I had a really solid week. … I knew if I kept doing what I was doing, it would work out.”
Moriya Jutanugarn, who was the 2013 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, finished 72 holes at 12-under 172 in her 156th start on the circuit.
The third-ranked Park, who will regain the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings on Monday, made a two-foot birdie putt on the last hole to card another 68, while Ko, a rookie who already has two LPGA Tour victories, closed with a 70.
Fifth-ranked So Yeon Ryu of South Korea of South Korea finished five shots back in fourth following a 68, while Emma Talley totaled 67 to wind up another stroke down in a tie for fifth with Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea, who had a 71.
Morgan Pressel posted a 67 and was seven down in a tie for seventh with Minjee Lee of Australia, who had a 71, while Sherman Santiwiwattanaphong of Thailand finished one more back in eighth after a 69, and Pernilla Lindberg shot 71 to wind up nine behind in a tie for ninth with Carolina Inglis, who came in at 73.
Shanshan Feng of China, who will lose her No. 1 ranking to Park, shot 71 and finished in a tie for 12th that included second-ranked Lexi Thompson, who had a 69, while sixth-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn tied for 24th with a 70, and eighth-ranked Cristie Kerr totaled 69 to tie for 31st.
For complete results, visit http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/hugel-jtbc-la-open/leaderboard.
