Ko wins in first start since being dethroned from top spot
- 05 Jul 2021
Ko Jin-young two putted for par on No. 18 to win the Volunteers of America Classic on Sunday, just one week after losing her world number one title.
In her first start since Nelly Korda overtook her, the South Korean carded a two-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Finland’s Matilda Castren.
Ko was No. 1 from July 2019, a streak of 100 consecutive weeks. But winning her eighth career LPGA Tour title on Sunday helped take some of the sting off being knocked off her lofty perch.
“I was thinking I had a lot of pressure with the No. 1 ranking,” Ko said. “But I made it this week. I’m very happy.”
Ko, who earned $225,000 for the victory, finished with a 16-under 268 total to edge Castren who closed with a 69 on the Old American Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.
She has now captured at least one win in five straight seasons going back to 2017. Her previous wins include the 2018 Women’s Australian Open and 2019 ANA Inspiration. Her most recent win was last year’s CME Group Tour Championship.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez closed with a 65 to finish in solo third, two shots adrift of Ko. Lopez made her only bogey on the last hole.
Germany’s Esther Henseleit closed with a 72 and tied for fourth with Ana Belac (68) and Emma Talley, who shot a 63.
Ko got off to a hot start by making birdie on three of her first four holes to open up a four-shot lead early in the final round. From there, she kept a lead of at least two shots for most of the round.
Castren made a late charge with a birdie at No. 17 to close the gap to one shot, but was unable to get any closer.
Defending champion Angela Stanford carded a 71 to finish in a tie for 12th with fellow American Stacy Lewis.
Davis outlasts Merritt: Australia’s Cam Davis edged Troy Merritt with a par at the fifth playoff hole on Sunday to win his first US PGA Tour title at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, Michigan.
Davis had eagled the par-five 17th and birdied 18 in regulation to thrust himself into a playoff with Merritt and Joaquin Niemann, all three tied after 72 holes on 18-under-par 270.
It was a heartbreaking finish for Chile’s Niemann, whose first bogey of the week came at the first playoff hole, his second shot at the par-four 18th threatening the flagstick but taking a hard bounce to settle in deep rough behind the green.
Agencies
