World Number Two, Sung Hyun Park saved her best until last at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday to claim one of the most coveted golf trophies in Asia, the HSBC Women’s Championship.
World Number Two, Sung Hyun Park saved her best until last at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday to claim one of the most coveted golf trophies in Asia, the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
The 25-year old lit up the New Tanjong course in round four, shooting the lowest round of the tournament to finish two shots ahead of second-placed Minjee Lee at 15-under.
Tied in eighth place overnight, Park set off as she meant to continue, notching up birdies on the first three holes and a further two on holes six and seven. Dropping a shot on the par-five eighth, it looked for a moment as though the five-time Tour winner might wobble, but a further four birdies after the turn was too great for the chasing pack, as she carded eight-under for the round.
This is her sixth victory on Tour and takes her past the US$ 4 million mark in LPGA Tour career earnings. Park commented:
"I'm really, really, really delighted and happy with my play today, and I think today is one of the best days that I am playing so far on the LPGA Tour."
For the first half of the round, it looked as though it was going to be Lee’s day. The Australian World Number Three made three birdies on the front nine but an even par back nine, which included a birdie on 12 followed by bogey on 14, wasn’t enough to keep Park at bay.
It’s the second consecutive week that Lee has finished runner-up, but she was magnanimous with the result.
"I feel like I've had a really good two weeks, and hopefully it just sets me up for the year."
Tied in third place, two shots further back at 11-under par were Jin Young Ko of South Korea and Azahara Munoz of Spain. The Spaniard, who lost out to Paula Creamer in a play-off in 2014, played some consistent golf carding 71, 68, 69 and 69 over four rounds.
For overnight leader, Ariya Jutanugarn, the wait for her first win in Asia continues. The World No. 1 wasn’t able to repeat the kind of form she had shown over the first three rounds. The Thai dropped two shots after hitting the water on the fourth, before picking up a birdie on eight. Despite two birdies on 10 and 11, a second double and two further bogeys on the back nine saw Asia’s biggest prize escape her grasp.
Singapore’s Amanda Tan put in a much-improved final round, carding five-over par 77. While it wasn’t the result she was looking for, the 20-year old was philosophical about her third outing at ‘Asia’s Major’.
As the 12th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship draws to a close, Sung Hyun Park adds her name to a list of champions that includes some of the true greats of the game including Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, Ai Miyazato, Paula Creamer, Inbee Park and Michelle Wie.
The HSBC Women’s World Championship returns to Sentosa Golf Club in 2020. For more information on the HSBC Women’s World Championship 2019, visit the tournament website at HSBCgolf.com/womens.
