The Canadian teen has two victories this year, beating Ko in a playoff in the major KPMG Women’s PGA and successfully defending a title in Oregon.
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Nomura won the Women’s Australian Open in February for her first LPGA Tour title and took the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in April in California. “It’s really nice for me to have a chance in a playoff”.
Ko could have avoided the playoff, which lasted more than an hour, if she had played her back nine with more accuracy earlier.
The world number one is set to make up for her US Open disappointment with another title.
Her recent form is beyond good, and she continued to prove that she delivers under intense pressure.
Kim Kaufman entered the final round of the Marathon Classic in a six-way tie for 13th at 6-under.
Ko finished the four rounds on 14 under par, level with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and South Korean Mirim Lee, forcing the trio into what would become a multiple extra hole shootout at the aptly named Marathon Classic.
Former child prodigy Michelle Wie continued her recent poor play to miss the cut after shooting 69 77.
It was the fifth playoff of Ko’s career. She’s 4-1 in playoffs.
“The longer we were out here, I think physically and mentally we were all getting a little exhausted”, Ko said. “I hit a few good shots in”.
“It was a good extra four holes”. I nearly ran out of pages.
“It’s been a great week”. “I’m trying to be a better person and a better golfer every day”.
Victory came on a day when she was confirmed to lead New Zealand’s golf team at the Rio Olympics.
VEGAS’S LEAD SHRINKING: Jhonattan Vegas’s lead was down to three strokes Saturday when rain finally stopped third-round play in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship in Opelika, Ala.
It was Ko’s short game which helped her on the final two holes, as she was able to chip close to the hole with both of her third shots on the par fives. “I said, ‘Hey, maybe she’s going to win.’ And then it just slipped by”.
“Today par-putter is good”, Nomura said. He chipped to 5 feet but Baddeley closed it out before Woo finished.
“I just had to stay confident and think with the two-putt par five finishing holes, anything can happen”.
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Shon kept herself within touching distance of the leaders after making four birdies during her bogey-free round, while Herbin recorded five birdies and a bogey on Thursday. The final top 10 will earn LPGA Tour cards.
