The shortest participant on the LPGA Tour got here up large in probably the most vital second of her profession.
Japan’s Ayaka Furue stood on the tee on the par-5 18th, holding a share of the lead at 17-under-par. Her enjoying companion, Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia, was additionally 17-under whereas Patty Tavatanakit, who carded an 8-under 63 earlier, sat within the clubhouse, ready to see how issues would unfold.
After discovering the primary lower of tough off the tee, Furue launched her second shot onto the inexperienced, settling about 12 ft away. She then drained the eagle putt to win the Amundi Evian Championship by a stroke, as Kyriacou birdied the 18th to return up simply brief.
“Breathtaking, unbelievable, and I’m so speechless,” Furue mentioned after her stellar 6-under 65.
Remarkably, Furue performed her final 5 holes in 5-under-par, making birdies on the 14th, fifteenth, and sixteenth earlier than eagling the 18th. She virtually had one other birdie drop on the seventeenth as properly, however her ball simply slid previous the opening on the excessive aspect.
“Not that good till the 14th gap, however I simply saved trusting myself after which simply saved going,” Furue mentioned.
After bogeying the par-4 twelfth, Furue dropped again to 14-under total. However she put the pedal to the medal down the stretch, coming within the clutch to grab her first profession main and second victory total on the LPGA Tour. Her earlier win got here on the 2022 Belief Golf Ladies’s Scottish Open.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
