The Manila Times

Yang dominates 2023 LPGA Tour

MIAMI: South Korea’s Amy Yang claimed the biggest victory of her career on Sunday (Monday in Manila), outdueling Japan’s Nasa Hataoka down the stretch to win the LPGA Tour Championship in Florida.

The 34-year-old Florida-based Yang carded a six-under-par 66 to complete a three-shot victory at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples and earn the $2 million first prize.

“I still can’t believe I did it,” said Yang, whose four prior LPGA titles all came in Asia.

Hataoka had been at the top of the leaderboard since the opening round, and went into Sunday sharing the lead alongside Yang after shooting a seven-under-par 65 on Saturday.

But after going through the first 54 holes of the tournament without shooting a single bogey, Hataoka finally blinked when it mattered most in Sunday’s tense back nine shootout with Yang.

The two women were level on 25 under heading to the par-three 16th, and it looked as if they would remain tied at the top after Yang missed a long putt for birdie and the solo lead.

Yet Hataoka bogeyed after missing her short par putt to leave Yang one shot clear with two to play.

Yang said she was “really nervous” as they dueled down the stretch, knowing that Hataoka could seize the momentum at any moment.

“I had no idea where this was going,” Yang said. “All I could do was just stick to my game and trust it.”

Yang finished with a 27 under 72-hole aggregate 261, while Hataoka was three back in second place alongside Alison Lee of the United States, who shot a closing 66.

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2023-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282243785331934

The Manila Times