Inbee Park shot a final-round 5-under par 67 to capture the 2018 Bank of Hope Founders Cup by five shots.
Starting her final day in Phoenix with a one-shot lead, Park made birdie on the first hole to move ahead by two. After 10 straight pars (Nos. 2-11), though, coupled with a birdie on No. 10 by Laura Davies, the Korean legend was up just one on the 54-year old Brit.
But after reeling off four-straight gains on 12, 13, 14 and 15, Park had built a comfortable five-shot spread, and cruised home level-par for win No. 19.
“I had to be really patient on the front nine. After the 1st hole I gave myself a lot of opportunities, but I wasn’t able to hole anything,” said Park.
“At some moments I was getting a little bit frustrated, but I always just try to keep myself calm and just keep telling myself that it’s going to come, it’s going to come. It’s going to drop at some point.
“It started dropping on No. 12. It was a relief, yeah.”
Park signed for a bogey-free scorecard comprised of five birdies and 13 pars, and a four-round total of 19-under par – five clear of Davies (69), Marina Alex (68), and Ariya Jutanugarn (70).
With the win, Park earned $225,000 and 500 points in the Race to the CME Globe. She is projected to move to sixth in the Race standings with 540 points.
TOP 10
1 Inbee Park -19
2 Marina Alex -14
2 Laura Davies -14
2 Ariya Jutanugarn -14
5 In Gee Chun -13
5 Megan Khang -13
7 Erynne Lee -12
7 Ally McDonald -12
7 Chella Choi -12
7 Mariajo Uribe -12
PARK: ROUND BY ROUND
Round 1: -4 (68, T3, Down 2)
Round 2: -5 (71, T13, Down 4)
Round 3: -14 (63, 1, Up 1)
Round 4: -19 (67, 1, Up 5)
RD 1: CHOI, ICHER SHARE EARLY LEAD IN PHOENIX
RD 2: CLANTON HOLDS 36-HOLE LEAD AT FOUNDERS CUP
RD 3: PARK SHOOTS 63, LEADS FOUNDERS CUP
STAT LEADERS
DRIVING DISTANCE
1 Maude-Aimee Leblanc 291.3 (-4)
2 Yani Tseng 288.0 (-3)
3 Sung Hyun Park 287.9 (-4)
FAIRWAYS
1 Kyung Kim 53/56 (-4)
2 Chella Choi 52/56 (-12)
3 Lee Lopez 51/56 (-2)
GREENS
1 Inbee Park 60/72 (-19)
1 Austin Ernst 60/72 (-10)
1 Ryann O’Toole 60/72 (-8)
PUTTS PER GIR
1 Laura Davies 1.58 (-14)
2 Erynne Lee 1.62 (-12)
3 Megan Khang 1.64 (-13)
3 Mariajo Uribe 1.64 (-13)
PARK’S STATS
Driving: 262.0
Fairways: 50/56 89%
Greens: 60/72 83%
Putts Per GIR: 1.70
VIDEO: SHOT OF THE DAY
Spain’s Beatriz Recari holes out on the par-4 18th hole for eagle.
QUOTABLE
“It’s always a great feeling to play in front of the Founders and show them our golf. It’s because of them that we are here competing in such a high level of golf. Women’s golf has grown so much since they founded the tour.”
– Inbee Park
Credits: LPGA Communications, Getty Images
