So Yeon Ryu posted a final-round 67 to claim victory by two strokes over Caroline Masson at Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.
Ryu, who started the day two back of Anna Nordqvist and Lee-Anne Pace, took control with a bogey-free final seven holes, highlighted by birdies on Nos. 12, 16 and 17 to reach a four-day score of 21-under par 267.
“Incredibly, I was really calm today. Of course I prayed like thousand times, but I was really calm,” said Ryu.
“I was able to focus on my game instead of think about other players. And then. I think my caddie really tried to help me out to relax, like he just keep talking about ordinary thing and then I think that really helped me.
“Also, I just keep talking myself to just trust yourself, like I know I’m a great player, I know I can handle all the tough situations and I’ve got this and then I made it.”
Masson (68) was at 19-under par 269 with Lydia Ko (67) at 18-under 270.
Jacqui Concolino (66), Azahara Munoz (68), Angela Stanford (70), Nordqvist (73) and Pace (73) were T4 at 17-under par 271.
Rounding out the top 10, sitting T9, were Nelly Korda (66), Lexi Thompson (67) and Moriya Jutanugarn (68) at 16-under 272.
One further back was Ariya Jutanugarn, who shot a tournament-low 62 to move 44 positions up the leader board to solo 12th at 15 under.
The win was the sixth of Ryu’s LPGA career, and earned the 27-year old Korean $300,000 and 500 points. She is projected to move from 29th to inside the top 10.
FINAL TOP 10
1. So Yeon Ryu -21
2. Caroline Masson -19
3. Lydia Ko -18
4. Jacqui Concolino -17
4. Azahara Munoz -17
4. Angela Stanford -17
4. Lee-Anne Pace -17
4. Anna Nordqvist -17
9. Nelly Korda -16
9. Lexi Thompson -16
9. Moriya Jutanugarn -16
VIDEO: FINAL-ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
THE FOUR ROUNDS
After Round 1: T1 -8 (-8, 64)
After Round 2: 1st -13 (-5, 67)
After Round 3: 3rd -16 (-3, 69)
After Round 4: 1st -21 (-5, 67)
WINNER’S STATS
Driving: 275.5 yards
Fairways: 32/52 62%
Greens: 60/72 83%
Putting: 99/1.65
Scoring: 28 Birdies, 38 Pars, 5 Bogeys, 1 Double Bogey
Par 5s: -13 (14 Birdies, 5 Pars, 1 Bogey)
Par 4s: -5 (8 Birdies, 21 Pars, 3 Bogeys)
Par 3s: -3 (6 Birdies, 12 Pars, 1 Bogey, 1 Double Bogey)
QUOTABLE
“This is such a nice area, I love this area, I love this golf course. Also, it’s really cool to see when we played a tournament, obviously a lot of people just in kayaks just going across the river is really cool to see it. Well, after today, it’s definitely going to be my favorite stop.”
– So Yeon Ryu