LPGA TOUR
Linnea Strom Fires 60 To Win Maiden LPGA Tour Title
Sweden’s Linnea Strom went from longshot to the winner marking her first victory on the LPGA Tour at the Shoprite LPGA Classic with a history-making performance. Strom, aged 27, held off Japan’s Ayaka Furue and America’s Megan Khang by one shot after starting the final round on the cutline in 52nd place and seven shots off the lead. No player in the history of the LPGA Tour had scored a win from worse than 20th place coming into the final round.
Strom’s final round bogey-free 11-under 60 is the second lowest round in LPGA Tour history. The flawless tally was achieved with one eagle and nine birdies included three consecutive birdies to close out Sunday. Strom carded rounds of 69, 70 and 60 at Seaview Bay Course in New Jersey to reach 14-under. The breakthrough victory was notched at her 99th LPGA Tour start. Strom won after missing the cut at five of her previous six starts.
Furue (65) and Khang (66) had their chance to force a playoff with a birdie at the closing par 5, 18th hole. Both players made a par to share second place at 13-under.
Stephanie Kyriacou was the best of the eight Australian in the field. The 23-year-old from Sydney closed with a 1-under 70 to finish in a tie for 12th place at 8-under.
The LPGA Tour moves to Michigan for next week’s Meijer LPGA Classic to be staged at Blythefield Country Club. Ireland’s Leona Maguire is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Linnea Strom -14
T2. Ayaka Furue -13
T2. Megan Khang -13
4. Atthaya Thitikul -12
5. Morgane Metraux -11
Australians
T12. Stephanie Kyriacou -8
T27. Hannah Green -6
T60. Hira Naveed -2
T63. Robyn Choi E
MC. Sarah Kemp
MC. Grace Kim
MC. Karrie Webb
WD. Karis Davidson
Image Credit: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
