Mi Jung Hur won her third LPGA Tour title with a brilliant final round at the Ladies Scottish Open on Sunday.
The South Korean carded a closing 5-under 66 in wet conditions at The Renaissance Club to finish 20-under 264, four shots ahead of compatriot Jeongeun Lee6 (70) and Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn (71).
After playing the first eight holes in 1-over par, Hur had four straight birdies from the ninth and also birdied Nos. 16 and 18 in a back nine of 31 to secure her first win since 2014.
Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn tees off at the 2nd hole during day four of the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Sunday Aug. 11, 2019. (Kenny SmithPA via AP)
"Honestly I don't like links courses but after this week I love it," Hur told Sky Sports. "It was really tough today with the rain but my caddie Gary is from Scotland and he helped me a lot on the course."
Hur shot a 62 in the second round, taking just 24 putts.
Lee6, a newcomer to links golf, won the U.S. Women's Open in June in South Carolina.
South Korea's Jeongeun Lee tees off at the 2nd hole during day four of the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Sunday Aug. 11, 2019. (Kenny SmithPA via AP)
Overnight leader Jutanugarn had been trying to follow her sister with a Ladies Scottish Open victory after Ariya Jutanugarn won last year at Gullane.
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South Korea's Mi Jung Hur poses as she celebrates with the trophy after winning the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Sunday Aug. 11, 2019. (Kenny SmithPA via AP)
South Korea's Mi Jung Hur, left, celebrates holing her birdie putt to win the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Sunday Aug. 11, 2019. (Kenny SmithPA via AP)
Jin Young Ko had five back-nine birdies in a 7-under 64 at demanding Wilshire Country Club for a share of the second-round lead Friday with Nasa Hataoka in the DIO Implant LA Open.
Five strokes behind first-round leader Alison Lee after a 71, the top-ranked Ko moved into position for her second victory of the season in the first of two straight LPGA Tour events in the Los Angeles area.
“My putting was so good today,” Ko said. “I wasn’t expecting to play really well today because in the afternoon it’s always hard to play this course. But my putting was good, so I’m happy with it.”
Jin Young Ko waves to fans after sinking a putt on the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Hataoka birdied her final three holes for a 68 to match Ko at 7 under. Eighteen players were unable to finish the round because of darkness.
After dropping a stroke on the par-4 ninth, Ko birdied Nos. 11-14 and added her eighth birdie of the day on the par-4 17th.
“I didn’t think I played 5 under on the back nine,” Ko said. “I didn’t know that. I was in the zone.”
Jin Young Ko tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
The 26-year-old South Korean star won in Singapore early last month for her 13th LPGA Tour title. She won five times last year.
“I have two more rounds and nobody knows how it goes,” Ko said. “So working hard and focus on it and go get it”
Hataoka had seven birdies and four bogeys. The 23-year-old from Japan has five LPGA Tour victories, winning twice last season.
Nasa Hataoka tees off at the 17th tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
“The wind was pretty strong,” Hayaoka said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive. On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”
Hannah Green was third at 5 under after a bogey-free 67. The Australian won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2019.
“I’m very pleased,” Green said. “I guess today’s round kind of felt like even more under par than what it was. I was pretty solid with my putting all day today which was nice because yesterday I had a couple three-putts.”
Nasa Hataoka, right, fist bumps her caddie, after sinking a shot on the 17th green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Fellow Australian Minjee Lee, the 2019 winner, had a 68 to match Haeji Kang (69) at 4 under. Inbee Park (67) topped the group at 3 under.
“You’ve got to really be careful how you play the holes — and you can’t get too greedy,” Park said. “Even though the course is short, it’s just really tough.”
Lee was 2 under, following her opening 66 with a 74.
Maddie Szeryk hits from the sand on to the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Defending champion Brooke Henderson, playing alongside Ko, shot 76-72 to miss the cut.
The Palos Verdes Championship is next week.
Inbee Park tees off at the fifth tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
