Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand defeated Ayaka Furue of Japan 3 and 1 within the ultimate to seize the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play title on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Anannarukarn, who turns 24 on Tuesday, picked up her second LPGA victory and have become the fifth Thai participant with a number of titles on tour, becoming a member of Ariya Jutanugarn (12), Atthaya Thitikul (2), Moriya Jutanugarn (2) and Jasmine Suwannapura (2).
“I just, you know, tried every possible way just to improve my game and just keep believing, and I’m lucky that I have everyone around me that helped me and supported me along the way just since Day 1,” Anannarukarn mentioned. “So I’m really grateful for that.”
Anannarukarn performed 34 holes at Shadow Creek Country Club on Sunday and 116 holes total to earn the victory. She was the one participant who wanted to win a playoff tiebreaker to advance out of the round-robin stage. She tied Karis Davidson of Australia at 2-1-0 in her group and beat Davidson on their first playoff gap Friday.
Earlier Sunday, Anannarukarn beat Linn Grant of Sweden 3 and 1 within the semifinals. Furue beat Ireland’s Leona Maguire 2 and 1 within the different semifinal.
In the ultimate, Furue took a 1-up lead when Anannarukarn bogeyed the second gap, however Anannarukarn parred the par-4 third gap whereas Furue bogeyed to stage the match.
The golfers traded the fifth and sixth holes earlier than Anannarukarn went again forward with a birdie on the par-5 seventh. She defended the lead, halving the following 4 holes with Furue, earlier than making one other birdie on the par-4 twelfth and transferring 2 up.
That proved essential, as Furue struck again and received the thirteenth gap with a birdie 2. But Anannarukarn birdied No. 14 to go forward 2 up once more, and main 2 up with two holes to play, her birdie on the par-3 seventeenth sealed the deal.
“The wind definitely picked up a lot and I think I used all of my birdies and focus (in the semifinal), so I really try hard to focus on myself,” Anannarukarn mentioned. “I missed couple putts and I even shanked off the bunker. I mean, it’s golf and I’m really tried, so I’m glad I was able to play … decent enough.”
–Field Level Media