Lauren Coughlin won the CPKC Women’s Open to claim her first LPGA Tour title, pulling away from Haeran Ryu with a two-stroke swing at the par-three 17th.
Tied for the lead after Ryu three-putted for bogey on the par-four 16th, Coughlin hit a six-iron to eight feet and birdied the 195-yard 17th. Ryu then missed a three-foot par attempt to fall two shots back.
“This is the ‘tweener of the club,” Coughlin said. “I really only managed to hit six and I had to get a few off, otherwise it might have been over, especially considering my anxiety at the time.
“But I hit it pretty perfect and, putt, I was almost going to stay out on the left there and just dove right at the last second. It was huge.”
He finished at 13-under 275, closing with a one-under 71 for a two-stroke victory over Mao Saigo in normally calm conditions at Earl Gray Golf Club, with smoke from wildfires again leaving a haze over the course.
Saigo shot 69 days after breaking the tournament record with 61 on a tree-lined course with thick rough and small greens.
“Being in contention this week was a great experience for me,” said Japan’s Saigo, 22, who became an LPGA Tour rookie after winning six times on the JLPGA.
Ryu also bogeyed the 18th in 75 which left her tied for third with Jenny Shin (67) at 10 under.
“I can only remember my mistakes from the last couple of holes, but there will always be a next time,” Ryu said.
Jennifer Kupcho is fifth at eight under after a 71.
Coughlin, the leader after each of the first two rounds, started the day shooting behind Ryu. Coughlin birdied the par-three fifth, bogeyed the par-fours six and 10 and birdied the par-five 15th.
The 31-year-old former University of Virginia player finished fourth two weeks ago in France at the Evian Championship.
“I think the story in general just shows that I’m always trying, always willing to try to do things,” Coughlin said. “I’m willing to stay there. I’m not giving up. I think I showed it perfectly today.”
Coughlin is in position to play for the United States in his home country’s Solheim Cup in September at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. She won in her 103rd LPGA Tour start.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” he added. “I’ve had people who believed in me for so long, and I wouldn’t be here without their encouragement and love.”
Ryu has had two straight top-three finishes. The 23-year-old South Korean finished second last week in Ohio at the Dana Open. He won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year for his first Tour title.
“I’ll do my next best thing,” Ryu said.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 champion, finished with a 68 for a tie for eighth at six under. There, he bogeyed the last four holes in a 73 that left him seven shots back for the weekend.
“I think it’s there,” Henderson said. “Good day like yesterday and today, minus-seven total, so if I clean up the first two days a little bit, I might be in the mix.”
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