Gorman product Park no longer stuck in gear
ADELAIDE, Australia — Former Bishop Gorman High standout Inbee Park saw a seven shot lead shrink to two shots Sunday before winning the Women’s Australian Open by three strokes to clinch her first LPGA title in almost two years.
Park, a seven-time major champion, started her final round three shots in front of 19-year old South Korean compatriot Ayeon Cho. She bogeyed the ninth hole but still turned five shots ahead of the field and went out to a seven-shot lead early on the back nine at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
But the 31-year-old former world No. 1-ranked player faltered briefly, bogeying the 14th and 16th holes and walking off the 16th green only two shots ahead of fast-finishing American Amy Olsen. Olsen had four birdies in a 3-under final round 70 and was in the clubhouse with an 11-under total of 281.
Park held her nerve, making birdie on the par5 17th and par on the 18th to win her 20th LPGA title and to gain a ranking boost which lifts her chance of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games at which she will defend the gold medal.
As the winning putt dropped Park was showered with champagne. She signed for a 1-over 74 and a total of 278, finishing three clear of Olsen and four clear of Delacour who took outright third place at 10 under.
“It was a tough day out there today, really different to the last three days I played,” Park said. “It has been a while since I played in Australia, it’s been eight years since I played here, so I’m really happy to be back here playing in front of Australian fans and to hold the trophy is even more special.”
Park last won on the LPGA Tour at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in mid-march 2018. That will be the next tournament stop on the 2020 tour — in Phoenix from March 19-22 — following the cancellation of tournaments in Thailand (where Park won in 2013), in Singapore (where Park won the HSBC Women’s Champions in 2015 and 2017) and in China.
Those tournaments were cut from the schedule due to the COVID-19 viral outbreak that began in China and has infected more than 67,000 people globally.