Hannah Green wins LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship for 2nd straight year

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Green won the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship for the second straight year Sunday, holing out twice from off the greens in a pivotal back-nine stretch at challenging Wilshire Country Club.

A year after making a 25-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation and winning on the second hole of a playoff, Green — with help from Maja Stark — took the late drama out of this one for her fifth LPGA Tour victory and second of the year.

“It wasn’t as a eventful as the last couple days. I was nervous,” Green said. “And I’ve never been able to win having a lead into the last hole like that, so it is nice to be able to get it done earlier in the round.”

Green closed with a 5-under 66 to beat Stark by three strokes. The 27-year-old Australian, also the winner early last month in Singapore, finished at 12-under 272 on the tree-lined layout with poa annua greens that become bumpy late in the day.

“It’s really kind to me,” Green said about the course. “I felt like a couple times today almost got like a member bounce. I, obviously, really am fond of the golf club and joked that they didn’t approve it with me that they were making alterations. I love it here.”

Green began the key run with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 12th and made a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 13th. Then, after Stark bogeyed the par-4 16th two groups ahead, Green ran in a 25-footer for eagle from the fringe on 15 to open a four-stroke lead, and made it 5 under in five holes with a birdie on 16.

“When I chipped in on 12 I kind of felt like I really snagged one there,” Green said. “I really like the 13th hole and also played the 15th really well. When I made eagle on 15 that kind of sealed the deal. I did see Maja got it to 9 under so I know what I needed to do. Usually, I make it really tricky on myself and only win by a shot.”

Stark finished with a 68, rebounding from the bogey on 16 to birdie the final two holes. The 24-year-old Swede also finished second last week outside Houston in The Chevron Championship, two strokes behind top-ranked Nelly Korda in the first major of the year.

“I’m really proud of the way I’ve played,” Stark said. “I feel like I’ve hit a lot of good shots and I feel like my nerves kind of took over for a little while, but I was always able to get back to the normal — my normal state of mind.”

Haeran Ryu (69) was third at 6 under, followed by fellow South Korean players Jin Young Ko (67) and Jin Hee Im (72) at 5 under.

Grace Kim, four strokes ahead entering weekend after opening rounds of 64 and 66 and tied with Green for the lead after a third-round 76, finished with a 77 to tie for 25th at 1 under. She failed to make a birdie the final two days.

Korda withdrew from the Los Angeles event Monday, a day after her record-tying fifth straight victory.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Hannah Green kisses the championship trophy after winning the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green drinks champagne after winning the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Grace Kim, right, sprays water on Hannah Green after Green won the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green holds up the championship trophy after winning the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green holds up the championship trophy after winning the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Grace Kim hits from the second tee during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Esther Henseleit hits from the second tee during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jin Hee Im hits from the second tee during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Maja Stark reacts after making a putt on the first green during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Maja Stark hits from the second tee during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green reacts after making a putt on the first green during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green putts on the first green during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green lines up a shot on the first green during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hannah Green hits from the second tee during the fourth round of the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

DENVER (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored twice on the eve of his 21st birthday as the Dallas Stars pushed Colorado to the brink of elimination Monday night with a 5-1 win in Game 4 that came hours after Avalanche standout Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months.

Johnston had short-handed and power-play goals for the Stars, who grabbed a 3-1 lead in the second-round, best-of-seven series. Dallas can close it out at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.

“He (Johnston) came out possessed tonight,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “He was all over the rink. Just fantastic, fantastic young hockey player that’s going to be a cornerstone.”

Miro Heiskanen and Evgenii Dadonov also scored, while Sam Steel added a late empty-net goal. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves.

About an hour before the game, the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association announced that Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay. He was placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program. It’s the second time this season Nichushkin has been in the program.

“We’re not going to use that as an excuse. We can’t and we won’t,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who found out after the morning skate and told his players when they returned to the rink before the game. “You have to be mentally tough.”

A Colorado lineup missing Nichushkin, the team’s leading goal scorer (nine) in this playoff run, struggled early to get on track and was outshot by a 16-2 margin in the first period. Casey Mittelstadt scored Colorado’s lone goal in the second.

“We looked frozen in the first period,” Bednar said. “We weren't moving, we're not skating. Looked like we were exhausted, and we should be the rested team.”

The Avalanche also were without standout defenseman Devon Toews, who was a late scratch due to an illness. Colorado's defense couldn't prevent Johnston and the Stars from building a 3-0 lead in the second period. Dallas has yet to trail in regulation during the series.

“We’ve played a lot of good hockey and put ourselves in some good positions,” Stars forward Joe Pavelski said. “It’s just a commitment to doing it the right way. That’s number one for us.”

Johnston, who turns 21 on Tuesday, scored his 10th and 11th career playoff goals. He became the eighth player in NHL history to reach double-digit postseason goals at age 20 or younger, according to league research.

He was presented a candy-bar cake with a candle after the game.

“It’s been a crazy, crazy couple of years,” Johnston said. “I’m just really thankful and just so happy to have met some amazing people on the way and just have a chance to be with the Stars.”

The Stars saw forward Roope Hintz leave the game after suffering an upper-body injury in the opening period.

Alexandar Georgiev was kept busy all night, stopping 29 shots.

Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin played in his first postseason game this season, stepping in to fill the void of Nichushkin. Drouin has been sidelined since he suffered a lower-body injury in the regular-season finale.

Caleb Jones was inserted into the lineup with Toews out and was whistled for two penalties.

The Avalanche dropped both home games to Dallas in this series. Colorado posted the NHL’s best home record (31-9-1) in the regular season.

It's desperation time.

“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Avalanche forward Andrew Cogliano said. “You lay it on the line and see where the chips fall. ... You want no regrets.”

Johnston took advantage of a Cale Makar turnover late in the first period and scored a shorthanded goal to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. It's the second shorthanded goal of the series for Dallas.

The Stars have outscored the Avalanche 6-0 in the opening period.

Colorado's frustration was on display after the first-period buzzer, with Colorado defenseman Josh Manson taking exception to Jamie Benn running into Georgiev. Manson pounced on Benn and both were hit with penalties — Manson for roughing and Benn for goaltender interference. Benn delivered a big hit on Toews in Game 2.

Now, it's back home to potentially end Colorado's season.

“They’re not going to go down quietly,” DeBoer said. "We’re going to anticipate that the next game is going to be the toughest to win.’’

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, front, reacts after giving up a goal to Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) gets tangled up with Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) in the third period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment, right, reacts after a goal by center Wyatt Johnston in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) confers with center Wyatt Johnston (53) in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, front, passes the puck in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven, left, drives toward Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) fights for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) becomes entangled with Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin. back left, in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment, right, struggles to control the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar covers in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, center, pursues the puck after driving past Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, and right wing Mikko Rantanen, right, in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) shoots against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) battles for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)