Australia’s Green retains crown at LA Championship
LOS ANGELES: Australia’s Hannah Green defended her title at the LPGA’s Los Angeles Championship with a three-stroke victory on Sunday at Wilshire Country Club for her second win of the season.
Green shot a 5-under-par round of 66 to end 12-under for the tournament, as she followed up her win at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore last month with another impressive performance.
The 27-year-old began the day sharing the lead with compatriot Grace Kim, who endured a nightmare final round, shooting a six-over 77 without a single birdie.
Kim was 12-under through two rounds but shot a five-over third round 76 on Saturday before a similarly disappointing display in the final round.
With Kim out of the picture, the biggest threat to Green came from Sweden’s Maja Stark, who shot 68 to end nine-under for the week.
World No.1 Nelly Korda, who has won her last five tournaments, did not compete in the event and is scheduled to return for the Cognizant Founders Cup, which runs from May 9-12, seeking a record sixth consecutive win.
Green had made a slow start, reaching the turn even, after her birdie on the opening hole was cancelled out by a bogey on the par-3 fourth.
But she hit her stride with birdies on the par-3 12th and the par-5 13th before pulling well clear with an eagle on the par-5 15th and a birdie on the 16th.
Green has a remarkable record at Wilshire. As well as her victory last year she was second in 2022.
The event will skip a year next season while renovations are carried out at the course, but Green said she almost feels like it is her home club.
South Korean Ryu Hae-Ran finished third, six strokes behind Green, after shooting 69 in the final round. She was followed by compatriots Ko Jin-Young and Im Jin-Hee.