Kim wins John Deere Classic in record-breaking runaway
SILVIS, ILL. » Michael Kim shot a final-round 66 on Sunday to win the John Deere Classic by a recordsetting eight strokes and pick up his first victory on the PGA Tour.
Kim, who turned 25 on Saturday, finished at 27-under 257 — breaking Steve Stricker’s tournament record from 2010 by one shot. He also qualified for next week’s British Open at Carnoustie.
Bronson Burgoon, Francesco Molinari, Joel Dahmen and Sam Ryder all finished at 19 under.
Kim took all the drama out of the final round with birdies on his first three holes and secured the largest margin of victory during the tournament’s stay at TPC Deere Run, which began in 2000. J.P. Hayes (2002) and Vijay Singh (2003) won the event by four strokes.
Laura Davies cruises to victory in US Senior Women’s Open
WHEATON, ILL. » Laura Davies went virtually unchallenged in Sunday’s final round of the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, claiming the title by 10 strokes over Juli Inkster.
The 54-year-old Davies shot a 5-under 68 to finish at 16-under 276 at Chicago Golf Club in the USGA’s championship for women 50 and older.
A 7-under 66 Saturday provided Davies with a fiveshot lead over Inkster. The World Golf Hall of Famer from England widened her advantage early Sunday when she birdied the par-5 second hole and Inkster made bogey.
Davies’ lead never fell below six shots after that as she added to her extensive trophy collection. She has 85 career victories, still plays on the LPGA Tour and finished tied for second at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup earlier this year.
Stone narrowly misses out on 1st 59 in European Tour history
GULLANE, SCOTLAND » The elusive round of 59 on the European Tour will have to wait for another tournament.
South African golfer Brandon Stone had an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 18 at the Scottish Open on Sunday for the first sub-60 round in the 46-year history of the European Tour. He narrowly missed it left.
Stone tapped in for a 10-under 60, for the 19th round of 60 on the tour. Eighteen players have done so, with Darren Clarke achieving it twice.
Stone was on course to win the Scottish Open after reaching 20-under par, which left him four shots clear in the clubhouse.
Suwannapura gets first LPGA Tour win at Marathon Classic
SYLVANIA, OHIO » Thidapa Suwannapura won her first LPGA Tour event on Sunday, closing with a 6-under 65 and birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Brittany Lincicome at the Marathon Classic.
The 25-year-old Thai player is the sixth first-time winner on tour this year. Her previous best finish in 120 starts was seventh at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship.
Suwannapura picked up three strokes over her final two holes, making eagle on the par-5 17th and closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th at Highland Meadows to finish at 14-under 270.
In the playoff, Suwannapura converted a short birdie putt after Lincicome hit her second shot into a water hazard and scrambled for par.
Lincicome shot 67. She had a chance to win in regulation, but her birdie putt from about 10 feet did a nearly 360-degree turn around the edge of the cup and stayed out. Next up for the big-hitting Lincicome: a start against the men at the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.
Third-round leader Brooke Henderson led by two shots after six holes, but struggled the rest of the way. Back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes dropped her out of the lead. The 20-year-old Canadian finished with a 2-under 69, one shot out of the playoff.