Woodlands, Texas –
Lilia Vu relied on her grandfather’s steady hand and calm demeanor to hold her steady during difficult times.
He passed away in 2020, but with a chance to win her first major at the Chevron Championships on Sunday, Boo’s tributes to her grandfather helped her again.
“I was really upset on the course. I had to remind you that Grandpa was with you,” she said. If it doesn’t work out, he’ll be really disappointed.”
With his memory in her head, Vu finished strongly with two straight birdies, taking a birdie on the first playoff hole and beating Angel Yin in a dramatic finish at the Carlton Woods club on Sunday. rice field.
Yoon’s second shot was a short shot that splashed into the pond guarding the par-5 18th hole. Boo hit her approach safely just over the green after a big tee shot. She hit the putter from outside the green and didn’t reach far enough, but she birdied from about 10 feet to take the win.
“All I knew on the last putt was I was going through my routine, reading the putt like I always do, and hitting this putt because I hit that putt a million times.” said Vu. “And I knew I could make it.”
The 25-year-old from California jumped into the pond to celebrate after winning his second LPGA Tour title. It’s a tradition borrowed from the original venue of this tournament in Mission Hills in the California desert.
Vu finished with a 4-under 68 and posted a four-day total of 10-under 278.
However, after bogeying on the 16th and 17th holes, Kage birdied on the 18th to secure a place in the playoffs.
“Obviously, on the playoff holes, I wasn’t hitting good shots,” Ying said. “That said a lot about today.”
Vu played for UCLA, but considered quitting the game after a poor start to his professional career. She regrouped and in 2021 she won three times on the developmental Epson Tour, followed by a solid run in 2022 before winning her tie at the Honda LPGA in February. She participated in this event and in the world she was ranked 12th. Yoon, 24, who turned pro while she was in high school, was ranked 172nd.
Yin finished runner-up for the second time in a major. She tied for second at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open.
“I’ve come a long way,” Ying said. “I’m really happy with who I am, where I am, and what I’m doing. I just want to thank you.”
Unable to find a sponsor willing to add to the half-century-long convention held at Mission Hills, the convention, known as longtime celebrity organizer Dinah Shore, has been a six-year partnership with Chevron. It was bolted in the woods outside Houston under the contract of
The winner has been jumping from the 18th green at Mission Hills into Poppy Pond since 1988, and Vu continued the tradition of jumping from a small dock into murky water on a cold day.
“I saw a snake in the pond yesterday or the day before, so I was thinking about it today,” she said. think.”
Vu won $765,000 from $5.1 million in prize money. This is the highest amount in the history of the event.
World No. 2 Nelly Korda struggled to putt again on Sunday, but eagled 18th to finish alone third at 9-under.
“I think it was 11:00 or 12:00 and I was like, ‘This is not my day,'” Korda said. “I’ve been in a lot of conflicts this year already. I haven’t been able to finish it. It’s obviously a sting, but if you keep knocking on the door, I think it’s one of those days.” Please open up for me eventually.”
Some regret missed opportunities.
Ataya Titikul made four birdies in a row from the 7th to the 10th, and while she was 10-under on the 18th fairway, she hit her third into the water for a double bogey.
“I hit pretty solid, but I probably misunderstood the wind, so it turned out that way,” she said.
Partner A Lim Kim was 8 under and needed a closing eagle to match Vu’s, but she shanked her second shot for par. Thitikul and Vu finished her two shots alongside Amy Yang, Albane Valenzuela and Allisen Corpuz.
Kopus, who entered the final round in the lead with Yin, dropped out of contention after having four bogeys in the first nine holes. She shot 74.
After repeated rain showers in the first three rounds, play was again suspended for 50 minutes on Sunday morning due to thunderstorms in the area. It was chilly, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
