CALGARY, Alberta — Lauren Coughlin won the CPKC Women’s Open on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, edging out Haeran Ryu by two strokes on the par-3 17th.
Tied for the lead after Ryu triple-bogeyed the par-4 16th, Coughlin hit a 6-iron to 8 feet and birdied the 195-yard 17th. Ryu then missed the -3-foot par to fall two shots back.
“It was kind of a club,” Coughlin said. “I could only hit 6 and I had to take it off even if it was over, especially considering the way I was tied at the time.
“But I hit it really well and, the putt, I thought it was going to stay left there and it just dove at the last second. It was huge.”
He finished at 13-under 275, closing with a 1-under 71 for a two-stroke victory over Mao Saigo in cool conditions at Earl Gray Golf Club, with wildfire smoke and fog leaving the middle of the course.
Saigo shot a 69 on the day after breaking the tournament record with a score of 61 on the fairway.
“Being in contention this week was a great experience for me,” said Saigo, the 22-year-old Japanese LPGA Tour player after winning six times on the JLPGA.
Ryu also carded an 18th of 75 which left her tied for third place with Jenny Shin (67) at 10 under.
“I remember my mistakes in the last holes, but there is a next time,” said Ryu.
Jennifer Kupcho was fifth at 8-under with a 71.
The leader after the first two rounds, Coughlin started the day shooting behind Ryu. Coughlin bogeyed the par-3 fifth, bogeyed the par-4 sixth and 10th and birdied the par-5 15th.
The 31-year-old, who played for the University of Virginia, was coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in France at the Evian Champions.
“I think my story in general shows that I’m always trying, I’m always going to try to do things,” Coughlin said. “I’m determined to stay in it. I’m not giving up. I think I showed that well today.”
Coughlin is in line to play for the United States in the Solheim Cup at home in September at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He won in his 103rd LPGA Tour start.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” Coughlin said. “I’ve had people believe in me for a long time, and I wouldn’t be here without their pressure and love.”
Ryu had his second straight top-three finish. The 23-year-old South Korean was 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 best next time,” Ryu said.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, finished with a 68 to tie for eight at 6 under. On Friday, he birdied the final four holes for a 73 that left him seven shots back for the weekend.
“I feel like I’m there,” Henderson said. “Good days like yesterday and today, minus-7 total, so if I cleaned up the first two days a little, I’d be good in the mix.”
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