Ariya Jutanugarn wins Kingsmill Championship

Ariya Jutanugarn edged past In Gee Chun and Nasa Hataoka on the second playoff hole to clinch a sensational victory in the Kingsmill Championship

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Ariya Jutanugarn wins Kingsmill Championship

May 21, 2018: After a long week of waiting out the weather, 54 holes was not enough to decide the 14th annual Kingsmill Championship.

Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun and Nasa Hataoka all posted 14-under to extend to a three-way playoff.

On the first playoff, the par-4 18th, Jutanugarn was second to play and made a 20-foot birdie putt. Hataoka responded with an 8-footer to match and extend to a second playoff hole.

Chun was first to putt and was unable to make birdie so it was down to two.

On the second playoff hole, Ariya Jutanugarn drilled a 15-footer to claim her first win of the season and eighth of her career. Hataoka went long on her approach and was unable to match Jutanugarn. It was her second win at the River Course. Jutanugarn also won the Kingsmill Championship in 2016.

Jutanugarn’s have now won two of the last four tournaments on the LPGA. Moriya won the HUGEL-JTBC LA Open in mid-April.

Brooke Henderson started and ended her day with a flurry of birdies to post a 6-under, 65 to jump from T8 to fourth place at 13-under, one short of getting into a playoff.

“I had great energy today, I started off with three birdies,” said a very happy Henderson. “I felt like I could really go low, which is a great feeling, but I kind of leveled off for a bit and then finished with four birdies on the back, which was awesome.”

Henderson made birdies on holes one, two and three and then capped her day with birdies on 15, 16 and 17.

Henderson got herself out of a mini slump since winning the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii.

“I feel like my game is in a great spot, ball-striking my game is in a great place,” said Henderson, who will take a rare week off. “I’m going to head to Florida to practice and get ready for the U.S. Women’s Open, but I made some putts this week so that’s a great feeling.”

 

LPGA Tour Release

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