Las Vegas resident Kang takes Women’s PGA title
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — From a young age, Danielle Kang’s parents instilled in her the belief that anything was possible.
Even major championships.
The 24-year-old Las Vegas resident birdied the final hole for a 4-under-par 68 and a 13-under 271 total to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, edging defending champion Brooke Henderson by one stroke.
Kang bogeyed the tricky par-3
17th, and Henderson closed with two birdies to move into a tie for the lead, coming up just short on a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.
But Kang responded with two solid shots to get to the green in two and then two-putted for the victory.
“I just told myself it was my week. It was my day,” Kang said.
Kang lost her father, K.S., to cancer in 2013. Her mother, Grace Lee, was one of the first people to congratulate her on the victory. She also facetimed with brother Alex, an instrumental figure in her performance at Olympia Fields, after the trophy presentation.
Kang’s father caddied for her when she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2010 and 2011. She keeps a journal where she writes messages to her father.
“If I could wish anything, I would wish that my dad saw me win,” said Kang, wiping tears from her eyes. “I think that it’s been a really difficult road for me the past four or five years.”
Kang trailed Henderson and Chella Choi by one after she bogeyed the par4 10th. But Kang moved in front with four straight birdies on Nos. 11-14.
Kang also had a clutch 21-foot par putt at 16 on her way to the winner’s check of $525,000. Her previous best finish in a major was a tie for 14th in the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open.
■ At Potomac, Md., Kyle Stanley got up-and-down for par from just over the 18th green to win the Quicken Loans National on the first hole of a playoff with Charles Howell III.
Stanley and Howell finished at 7-under 273 at TPC Potomac after matching final-round 4-under 66s. Howell had a 21-foot putt to win on the final hole of regulation that rolled over the left edge of the cup.
■ At Peabody,
Mass., Kenny Perry claimed his second U.S. Senior Open title, pulling away from Kirk Triplett at Salem Country Club to finish at 16 under and win by two strokes.
The 56-year-old Perry closed with a 2-under 68 for a record score of 264.
PGA — Champions —