Victory unexpected for awesome Ariya
Thai takes Kingsmill crown after play-off
WILLIAMSBURG: Ariya Jutanugarn arrived at the Kingsmill Championship with no expectations, and it was a strategy that paid off handsomely.
The 22-year-old Thai star birdied the second hole of a play-off on Sunday to win the LPGA Tour event for the second time in three years.
She rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt to pip Japanese teen Nasa Hataoka and took home US$195,000 (approximately 6.2 million baht) in prize money from her first win of the year.
“I didn’t feel that much pressure because I did a great job today. So whether I’m going to win or lose, I’m very proud of that,” Ariya said.
“I’m going to say I didn’t expect anything this week because I think I have been playing ... very good like the last few tournaments and I’m still not winning the tournaments.
“So show up this week, I just tell myself I’m not going to expect anything. I’m going to really focus on the things under my control and make sure I’m going to have good commitment every shot.
“When I’m thinking about winning, I never win.”
Ariya became the 12th winner in as many events on the tour this season.
Ariya’s older sister, Moriya, won the LA Open last month for her first LPGA Tour victory. Moriya finished on 205 at Kingsmill Resort.
Ariya closed with a five-under-par 66 to match Hataoka (67) and South Korea’s Chun In-Gee Chun at 14-under 199.
Ariya and Hataoka both birdied the first extra hole, with Chun dropping out.
The 19-year-old Japanese putted first on the second extra hole and missed badly from just off the back of the 18th green before the Thai rolled her putt for her eighth career victory.
“I couldn’t believe I played in a play-off in such an early stage in my career,’’ Hataoka said. “I’m just going to try to keep going for the rest of the year.’’
Ariya started the day two shots behind Chun and used a stretch of five birdies in six holes to build a two-shot lead before making bogey at the par-5 15th — one of the easiest holes on the course.
“After that I got a little bit mad, but my caddie just told me ... we can’t go back and change anything,’’ she said. “All we can do is just what we have now. Try to hit a good shot.’’
Hataoka, playing with Chun in the final threesome, birdied No.15 to join Ariya at 14 under, and Chun made a long birdie putt on the par-3 17th to also get to 14 under.
It was the eighth top-10 finish of the season for Ariya, the only player on the women’s tour to have made the cut in every event she’s played this year.
It was the fourth play-off in the history of the tournament.
The tournament was cut from 72 holes to 54 when rain washed out play on Saturday.
Brooke Henderson closed with a 65 to finish a shot back. Megan Khang was fifth after her third straight 67.