It was a dramatic Sunday finale at the Amundi Evian Championship and with an eagle on the last hole of the week, Ayaka Furue is finally a major champion.
Furue, who entered the week with 16 top-10 finishes over the last two seasons – the most of anyone on the LPGA Tour without a win, shot a final-round 6-under 65 to win by one over Stephanie Kyriacou.
Furue was 2-under through 11 holes before bogeying No. 12. Then, however, she went on a championship-winning run. She birdied Nos. 14-16 before knocking her approach on the closing par five to about 25 feet and rolling in the eagle – she went 5 under for her final five holes of the week!
Furue became the sixth golfer to make the Amundi Evian Championship her maiden major title and became the fourth golfer from Japan in history to win any women’s major championship.
This is her second career LPGA Tour title.
“This is breathtaking. Incredible. I’m so speechless,” Furue said. “I didn’t believe that I can get the major win so I’m so happy right now.”
Golf Town Ambassador Brooke Henderson finished tied for 26th.
She had a unique final round, being 2 over through eight holes on both her front nine and back nine before making eagle on both the par-5 9th and the par-5 18th.
“I’m trying to take the positives away. I’m hitting the ball really well and hope to continue to do that the rest of the year,” Brooke said. “Giving myself a lot of great opportunities just not capitalizing as much as I would like. I’m excited and happy that I’m hitting so many greens and giving myself birdie looks. Hopefully that continues and we’ll make a few putts and it’ll be a great end to the season!”
Brooke is off next week before returning to Canada for the CPKC Women’s Open in Calgary.