Hinako Shibuno carded a final-round 68 at Woburn Golf Club to claim a major victory in her first ever LPGA start at the AIG Women’s British Open.
Shibuno finished at 18-under par, one clear of runner-up Lizette Salas (65).
The 20-year old from Okayama Prefecture, Japan became just the second player her country – male or female, to win a major golf championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Pro-File
Full Name: Hinako Shibuno
Nationality Japan
Height: 5′ 5″
Birthdate: Nov. 15, 1998 (age 20)
Native: Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Final Scores: Top 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Hinako Shibuno -18 (-4)
2. Lizette Salas -17 (-7)
3. Jin Young Ko -16 (-6)
4. Morgan Pressel -15 (-5)
5. Ashleigh Buhai -14 (-2)
Shibuno’s Winning Numbers
Driving: 254.9 yards
Fairways: 43/56, 76.8%
Greens: 60/72, 83.3%
Putts/GIR: 101/1.68
Par-3s: (-3) 4 Birdies, 11 Pars, 1 Bogey
Par-4s: (-8) 14 Birdies, 21 Pars, 4 Bogeys, 1 Double
Par-5s: (-7) 7 Birdies, 9 Pars
Total: (-18) 25 Birdies, 41 Pars, 5 Bogeys, 1 Double
2019 LPGA Tour Season
Starts: 1
Cuts Made: 1
Wins: 1 (AIG Women’s British Open)
Addtl Top 10s: N/A
Earnings: $675,000 (19th)
Video: Shibuno’s Day-4 Highlights
Things To Know
- With her win, Shibuno is eligible for LPGA Tour Membership; she can accept immediate Membership, which would count 2019 as her rookie season, or take Membership for the 2020 season
- Shibuno is the second Japanese player to win a women’s major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; no male player has won a professional major championship
- She is playing in her first LPGA Tour event and for the first time ever outside of Japan
- She is the 26th non-LPGA Member to win an LPGA Tour event and the first since Jin Young Ko won the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship
- She is the second player this decade to win in her major debut, joining Hyo Koo Kim (2014 Evian Championship)
- Shibuno is in her rookie year on the JLPGA Tour after spending 2018 on the tour’s developmental Step Up Tour
Quotable
Prince Charming..
“A trophy is a trophy, so I can’t really compare to Prince Charming, but this is definitely the most valuable trophy I’ve ever received.”
– Hinako Shibuno
Credits: Getty Images, LPGA Media
