Germany’s Caroline Masson secured her first LPGA Tour title in a thrilling finale to the Manulife Classic in Canada.
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The 27-year-old former Oklahoma State player rebounded from an opening double bogey to make nine birdies in a 5-under 67.
“I started off well, I was four-under through the first nine, but I guess I couldn’t quite get it done and Caroline was one shot ahead of us”, Lee said.
“I didn’t really believe (after the first hole) that I would have a chance to win”. She was showered in beer in celebration on the 18th green. And I just came in; I was super relaxed. “I prefer the beer over the water, I think”.
Mi Hyang Lee, Minjee Lee and France’s Karine Icher all tied for second at 15 under. As soon as it rolled short of the hole a signal went up and Ernst, Minjee Lee and Ko pounced on their prey, pouring beers all over the surprised Masson.
Last year’s victor Suzann Pettersen climbed into a tie for fifth – after being tied for 17th through 54 holes – with Ko and Jutanugarn at 14-under par.
Jutanugarn had a chance to tie the lead when standing on the 18th tee but pulled her tee shot into the left hand bushes, was unplayable and returned to the tee before making three with her second ball but the resultant bogey would cost her.
Paul Casey finished with a birdie and an eagle over the last three holes Sunday for a 5-under 66 and a three-shot lead going into the Labor Day finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Kim Hyo-joo, who started the final round in outright second, dropped back to equal eighth after her even-par 72. I mean it really is. Only after those three had failed to birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff did she know that she’d earned her first professional title. “If I can try to help grow the game or inspire someone to pick up this game, this unbelievable game, it really makes me feel awesome”. “I feel like I want to be happy on the course, and tomorrow final day”. And you know, that’s what I just tried to remember. Its unbelievable that it really worked out in the end.
She was level on 14 under with Lydia Ko (68) and Suzann Pettersen whose final-round 66 featured eight birdies.
Ko had a 68. The 19-year-old New Zealanders has four LPGA Tour victories this year.
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There were a few putts that kind of slipped by, but considering where I was at the end of Friday, I think it was a pretty good job on the weekend, Ko said. Canadian star Brooke Henderson tied for 39th at 7 under after a 71.
