Hannah Inexperienced makes it an Aussie back-to-back at LPGA Girls Championship

Hannah Inexperienced has ensured back-to-back titles for Australia on the BMW Girls Championship in South Korea, emulating the feats of Minjee Lee from final 12 months.

A birdie on the testing seventeenth took Inexperienced into the lead at 19-under and she or he was in a position to see her approach safely dwelling at Seowon Valley Nation Membership to clinch her third LPGA title of the 12 months.

She turned the primary Australian girl since golf nice Karrie Webb in 2006 to win three LPGA tournaments in a 12 months, and joined world primary Nelly Korda and quantity three Lydia Ko amongst gamers to realize the feat this 12 months.

“I knew I wanted to make birdies someplace however I did not assume it might be on 17, as a result of that was a fairly tough pin place,” the world quantity eight stated.

“I hoped for a bit simpler two-putt on the final, however grateful that that second putt went in.”

Inexperienced held off fast-finishing French golfer Celine Boutier, who had the spherical of the day with a 66, together with a 31 on the again 9, to complete one stroke again.

After streaking forward with match eight-unders within the first two rounds, the Australian Olympian took a two-shot lead into the ultimate spherical on Sunday however was joined on the prime of the leaderboard at 18 beneath by Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, who reeled off an eagle and 4 birdies on the entrance 9.

Inexperienced was one-under by her opening 9 holes, however her recreation virtually got here unstuck on the eleventh when her tee shot went wildly left into the tough.

The 2019 Ladies’s PGA Championship winner hit a provisional shot however was capable of finding her ball on the base of a tree and hacked it out, managing to solely drop one stroke.

The 27-year-old West Australian couldn’t purchase a birdie till the par-four seventeenth when she skipped forward of Boutier, whereas Wannasaen dropped a shot on the identical gap to complete at 17-under.

Inexperienced held her nerve on the par-four 18th, making par to seal the win earlier than she was joined by rivals, together with 57th-placed compatriot Grace Kim, who sprayed her with champagne.

It was Inexperienced’s second LPGA tour wire-to-wire victory and introduced her profession title haul to 6.

“My putter might be cold and warm similar to every other participant, and positively this week it was actually sizzling, so I used to be simply attempting to take benefit when issues are going nicely,” she stated.

“Clearly, it is tough to win tournaments, however I believe having skilled it and having confidence on the best aspect of issues, it makes it simpler.

“However do not get me unsuitable, I used to be nonetheless actually nervous taking part in these final three holes.”

Defending champion Lee had a day to neglect, following her third-round 66 with a 77 that included 5 bogeys on the again 9, to complete tied for thirty third.

Fellow Australian Gabriela Ruffels carded a final-round 74 to complete joint forty sixth.

The sphere within the $US2.2 million ($3.3 million) occasion was loaded with eight of the LPGA Tour’s prime 10 gamers and included 17 of the 18 winners this season.

The LPGA Tour strikes on to the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this week, with Boutier the defending champion.

AAP