Lee celebrates her birthday with memorable triumph
ANN ARBOR: Australia’s Minjee Lee celebrated her 22nd birthday with a victory in the LPGA’s Volvik Championship in Michigan, a birdie at the final hole lifting her to a one-shot win over Kim In-Kyung.
Lee, who took a two-shot lead into the final round, fired a four-under-par 68 for a 16-under-par total of 272.
A three-putt bogey at 17 had dropped her into a tie for the lead with Kim, who had capped her 67 with a tap-in birdie at the last for a 15-under total of 273.
At Travis Pointe’s par-five 18th, Lee’s second shot landed just right of the green. She chipped to within three feet and drained the putt for her fourth LPGA victory and her first since 2016.
“I’ve been playing pretty solid the whole year,” said Lee, whose five prior top-10 finishes in 2018 included a play-off loss to Lydia Ko in San Francisco in April.
“It’s nice to have a win before the Open,” added Lee, already looking ahead to the US Women’s Open that starts on Thursday in Shoal Creek in Alabama.
Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn carded a 65 to finish third on 274.
Stacy Lewis, who is expecting her first child in November, started the day with a share of second but settled for a 71 that left her equal seventh on 277 alongside Ariya Jutanugarn and Danielle Kang.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
(Par-72, USA unless noted)
272 — Minjee Lee (AUS) 67-69-68-68
273 — Kim In-Kyung (KOR) 70-69-67-67
274 — Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 66-72-71-65
275 — Su Oh (AUS) 69-70-68-68, Lindy Duncan 67-70-69-69
276 — Megan Khang 67-73-69-67
277 — Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 69-69-70-69, Danielle Kang 66-72-69-70, Stacy Lewis 71-68-67-71