Jutanugarn joins sister as an LPGA winner
LOS ANGELES — Moriya Jutanugarn won the HUGEL-JTBC LA Open by two shots for her first victory in six years on the LPGA Tour, joining sister Ariya as the second siblings to win on the tour.
The 23-year-old from Thailand shot a 3-under 68 for a 12-under 272 total Sunday at Wilshire Country Club in the tour’s return to Los Angeles after a 13-year absence.
Jutanugarn won in her 156th start after three career runner-up finishes, including at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February. She had 21 top-10 finishes before winning.
Seven-time winner Ariya Jutanugarn tied for 24th after a 70. She joined the crowd to follow her older sister’s final holes, crying as Moriya two-putted to close out the win. Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam were the first sisters to win on the LPGA Tour.
Hall of Famer Inbee Park shot a 68 to tie for second with Jin Young Ko (70). The lone Canadian to make the cut, Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City, had a 7-over 78 Sunday to finish at 11-over 295.
Park had opportunities, but she wasn’t able to put pressure on Jutanugarn playing in the final threesome. However, Park will return to No. 1 in the world when the rankings come out Monday, knocking off top-ranked Shanshan Fang, who tied for 12th.
Jutanugarn began the final round with a two-shot lead and never wavered in fulfilling the potential she first displayed as the LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2013. After a birdie at the second hole, she reeled off nine consecutive pars before sinking birdie putts at 12 and 13.
Jutanugarn calmly parred the 18th hole to win by two shots. Ariya rushed onto the green and joined others in emptying water bottles on her sister before they embraced.
So Yeon Ryu (68) finished fourth at 7-under. American Emma Talley (67) and Eun-Hee Ji (71) tied for fifth at 6-under, making Ji one of four South Koreans to place in the top five.