Evian joy comes to Stanford after wild ending

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE Angela Stanford ended her long wait for a first major title when her 3-under 68 was enough to win the Evian Championship by one shot Sunday when longtime leader Amy Olson made double-bogey on the 18th.

At age 40, and 15 years after she was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open, Stanford’s wild final few holes gave her a 12-under total of 272.

Olson missed a six-foot putt for bogey on the 18th to force a playoff, while Stanford waited near the green signing autographs for dozens of young spectators.

Stanford, who got the last of her five LPGA Tour titles in 2012, put her hands to her mouth on hearing she had won, and was in tears during television interviews.

Stanford earned US$577,500 for making her 14th career top-10 finish in majors a winning one.

Olson carded a 74 to fall into a four-way tie for second place with fellow Americans Austin Ernst (68) and Mo Martin (70), and South Korean Sei Young Kim (72).

Martin barely missed with a birdie chance on the 18th to face Stanford in a playoff.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson finished in a tie for 10th at 8-under.

The 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-under 68 to rebound from a 1-over on Saturday.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton closed with an even-par 71 and tied for 37th, while Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., tied for 49th at 3-over.

After Olson was outright or joint leader all day — briefly with Stanford at 13-under with four holes to play — she three-putted to end her championship with a careerbest result.