Thailand’s Jutanugarn wins Canadian Open
PRIDDIS, ALTA. — Ariya Jutanugarn rebounded from disappointment at the Olympic Games to win the LPGA’s Canadian Open on Sunday.
Knee pain forced the 20-yearold from Thailand to withdraw during the third round of the women’s golf tournament in Rio, where women’s golf made its Olympic debut.
Jutanugarn was the leader after the opening round there.
She almost pulled out of this week’s $2.25-million US Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, but was glad she didn’t.
“My knee hurt so bad last week, but when I got here on Monday and Tuesday, it was getting a lot better,” Jutanugarn said Sunday after collecting a winner’s cheque of $337,500.
“I think my tee shots were pretty good all week and my irons are getting a lot better in the last week or so.”
Jutanugarn’s fifth victory in just her second year on the tour is the most by any LPGA player this season. Among the wins for the No.-2 ranked player in the world is this year’s Women’s British Open.
Leading by two shots heading into the final round at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, she posted seven birdies and just one bogey en route to a 6-under 66 in cool, cloudy conditions.
She finished four shots clear of runner-up Sei Young Kim of South Korea on the 6,622-yard Raven course. Three-time winner Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for seventh at 13-under.
Jutanugarn received a champagne shower from playing partners Kim and countrywoman In Gee Chun after sinking a birdie putt on No. 18.
“I felt like I wanted to have fun and be happy on the course,” Jutanugarn said. “I feel really happy with myself right now. No matter what’s going to happen, I feel like I can handle it.”
Three Canadians finished in the top 15 for the first time in the history of the tournament. Alena Sharp of Hamilton closed out with gallery-pleasing, back-toback birdies for a career-best fourth.
The 35-year-old shot 5-under on the final day to finish seven shots back of Jutanugarn.
“I can’t really describe how great it feels to play this well in Canada because I have not played well at the Canadian Open in recent years,” Sharp said.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., tied for 14th at 11-under for the tournament.
Henderson, 18, walked off smiling after a birdie putt on No. 18. Leblanc, 27, was not as happy after missing a short par putt for a bogey there.
Henderson, the world No. 3, and Sharp flew directly to Calgary from Rio, where Henderson tied for seventh and Sharp placed 30th.
Both women felt optimistic about their game as they head to the $1.6-million US Manulife LPGA Classic, starting Thursday in Cambridge.