Linn Grant Wins First LPGA Title at Dana Open, Beating Allisen Corpuz by 3 Photographs

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Linn Grant gained her first LPGA Tour title after an excellent begin to her profession in Europe, enduring a cost from U.S. Ladies’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz and shutting with a 3-under 68 for a three-shot victory within the Dana Open on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Grant has 5 victories on the Girls European Tour — together with a history-making nine-shot victory final 12 months against a field of men and women within the Scandinavian Blended — and earned LPGA membership beginning final season. However she didn’t play in the US till this 12 months, when the U.S. dropped its COVID-19 vaccination requirement for international vacationers. The Swede didn’t disclose her causes for remaining unvaccinated, calling it a personal matter.

Now she’s an LPGA winner and a lock to symbolize Europe within the Solheim Cup this fall in Spain.

“I believe I’ve imagined today so many instances in so some ways in my very own thoughts,” Grant stated. “Simply being right here now, I’m simply so speechless and on the identical time I really feel accustomed to the setting for some motive. However it’s simply so enjoyable.”

Grant entered the day with a six-shot lead after a 62 on Saturday. She parred her first seven holes, chipped in for birdie from behind the inexperienced on the par-3 eighth, and nonetheless led by six on the flip. However Corpuz, every week after she gained at Pebble Seaside for her first LPGA title, made it attention-grabbing with birdies on 4 of the final 5 holes to shoot 65 and get inside two photographs.

“It would not matter if it is one shot or six or no matter it’s. Like, it is simply terrible. You simply stress all the best way,” Grant stated. “From the second I teed off to the final putt I’m simply shaking, burdened, tense. It’s enjoyable, but additionally very not very enjoyable.”

Grant saved par on the par-4 sixteenth and completed with a birdie on the par-5 18th, reaching the inexperienced in two with a 3-wood that she did not suppose she may get there. Her four-day whole at Highland Meadows was 21-under 263.

“I believe it is easy to only exit and suppose that, properly, I am going to simply go on the market and I am going to win. In my thoughts I am nonetheless pondering that somebody may come from behind and shoot a 9 below,” Grant stated. “And so in my head I nonetheless needed to — like if I may simply shoot 2, 3 below at this time, which I did, that might most likely get me there.”

Per week after her triumph at Pebble Seaside, Corpuz didn’t shoot worse than 68 over 4 rounds in Ohio.

“Actually simply centered on getting relaxation the entire week. Didn’t get any sleep Sunday evening after which journey day Monday,” Corpuz stated. “So I used to be a bit of drained, however simply tried to remain centered all through.”

Corpuz strikes to fourth within the Race to CME Globe standings.

“My sport’s simply felt prefer it’s in a very great place,” she stated. “Simply haven’t actually put 4 strong rounds collectively till, clearly, final week and this week.”

Lindy Duncan additionally closed with a 65 and was alone in third, six photographs again. Xiyu Janet Lin (67) and Stephanie Kyriacou (69) have been one other shot behind. Kyriacou performed within the closing group and had her finest LPGA end.

“I realized an entire lot in regards to the psychological aspect of golf. How you can cope with nerves and all that stuff,” the Australian stated. “So quite a lot of issues to remove from this week, despite the fact that one wasn’t a trophy.”

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