It was a fight between Koreans. Power to power. Last year’s rookie, Haeran Ryu (-15), has prevailed over the 29-year-old ‘veteran’, Jin Young Ko (-15). Experience this time has not been a degree and Ryu has won the FM Championship with the second victory of her career on the LPGA Tour.
With this triumph and at just 23 years old, Haeran Ryu is consolidating herself as a player to be very much taken into account for great things. Just three weeks ago she had stepped onto the podium in Canada and in the previous event she had finished second. She was knocking on the door of the second victory and, with suspense and in the playoff, this Sunday she has knocked it down without complexes.
On the other hand, Jin Young Ko’s first victory this season will have to wait. A win would make her chain eight consecutive years winning on the circuit. In Boston she has been left at the gates.
Both players have been able to temper their spirits because the day has been practically two hours suspended due to a rainstorm with thunderstorm. When they returned everything was even. Ko had four flags left and Hyu two. Everything would be decided after the break.
Truth be told, the Korean Ryu has lived a week that has been a real roller coaster. On Friday she seemed to have the tournament in her pocket with a six-stroke lead after handing in a card of 62 strokes, on Saturday she was discarded for the fight with a round of 78 and this Sunday she has got back into the fight with a round of eight under par (65).
On the last regular hole it seemed that Hyu was losing it again. Ko has made a great birdie option. A fantastic iron has given her the opportunity to close the tournament with a putt of just over three meters. The two-time Majors champion hesitated and was not able to convert it. Everything would be decided in the playoff.
There emerged again a great Haeran who achieved the birdie that gave her her second title of the year rounding off a great season in which she has added, among others, three top ten in Majors.
The one who has not been able to fight for the victory has been Carlota Ciganda (-8). The Navarrese went out this Sunday three strokes from the lead and with real options to win again on the North American circuit almost eight years later. After two magnificent rounds of 67 strokes, the Spaniard today has played a round of one under par that has allowed her to add a new top ten to the backpack. The third victory will have to wait but the 55th top ten of her career on the LPGA is already here. It is said soon, but the number of appearances in the top ten are nothing short of amazing.
This tournament has been her best result in four months. Despite the insufficient last round, the week has been very positive for the Navarrese player. She has not been able to finish the job, but she adds good feelings for the Solheim Cup that starts in just eleven days.
Ana Peláez and Azahara Muñoz (+1), the other two Spaniards present in Boston, have closed their participation in the FM Championship tied in 60th place. They will need to continue adding in the rest of the season if they want to fight to maintain their rights on the North American circuit.
In Solheim key it should be said that four Americans have finished in the top ten of the tournament with Allisen Corpuz (-13) who has been third, Jennifer Kupcho (-11), Lauren Coughlin (-9) and Sarah Schmelzel (-9). In addition Lexi Thompson has finished among the top twenty and Rose Zhang twenty-fifth. Very good feelings for Stacy Lewis’s girls.
The best European has been Carlota. By the way, Madelene Sagstrom has been forced to abandon the tournament and has not been part of the final round of the tournament. Hopefully it is nothing serious and she can participate with total tranquility in Gainesville from the next day 13.
