Paula Reto of South Africa clinched her first LPGA Tour title after coming from behind to win the CP Women’s Open by one stroke on Sunday in Ottawa, Canada.
With the conditions hot and sunny for the final round at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, the 32-year-old Cape Town native closed with a 65 to finish on 19-under 265 in her 157th start on the tour.
Choi Hye-jin, the overnight co-leader, failed to get any momentum going as the South Korean shot a 69 to finish equal runner-up with American Nelly Korda (67). New Zealander Lydia Ko carded a 63 to finish fourth, two shots back.
South Korean Kim A-lim (67) was fifth at three shots off the pace, a stroke ahead compatriot An Narin, the other overnight co-leader who struggled to a one-over 72. She finished equal sixth with American Sarah Schmelzel (70).
China’s Lin Xiyu shot a 68 to finish top among the mainland players on seven-under par, one stroke ahead of fellow Guangdong resident Liu Ruixin (71). Yu Liu shot 73 to finish 66th.
Reto, who fired a nine-under 62 in the first round to set a new course record, a mark that would be matched by American Lindy Duncan (71) on Saturday, started the day one shot off the lead and came out firing in her 157th LPGA Tour start. After five birdies over the front nine to get to 20-under, she dropped her only shot at the par-four 14th and then hung on as a hard-charging Korda could not make birdie at the last to force a playoff.
“It’s kind of nice to not be the leader starting off the day on the fourth day, so I sort of had more of an aggressive mindset I would say. I had a couple short putts, which was nice, too,” said Reto.
“Then the back nine I started putting on the brakes, and that’s probably not what you want to do. I haven’t really much been in this position, and I was just trying to control myself and be in the moment. I’m happy it all worked out. If Nelly birdied 18 maybe it would’ve been more stressful.”
After making the turn at even-par, world No. 3 Korda, daughter of Czech tennis great Petr Korda, quickly moved into contention on the back nine when she made a birdie at the 11th hole, followed by a chip-in eagle two at the next from 130 yard out to get to 17-under. After faltering to a bogey five at the 14th, she rebounded with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to get within a stroke of Reto.
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