Hannah Green once again made Los Angeles her territory. The Australian claimed the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday after prevailing in a three-way playoff against the Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim, the three tied on 17 under par after four rounds at El Caballero Country Club. Green, who already knows how to win here, reappeared when the tournament was being decided and ended up taking a very high-quality title at one of the courses that suit her best on the LPGA Tour.
The resolution of the tournament was full of emotion. Green switched to attack mode on Sunday and finished the job with the calm of major champions, withstanding the pressure of two Korean players who also pushed until the end. The climax came at the 18th, the playoff hole, where the Australian sank the decisive birdie to topple Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim. It was, moreover, her third title at this tournament in the last four years, a simply spectacular dominance. It is Green’s fourth victory in her last five tournaments, two on the LPGA and two on the LET.
Behind the leading trio finished Ina Yoon, in sole fourth with -16, while the top 5 was completed by Haeran Ryu and Patty Tavatanakit, both with -14. It was a week of many birdies, very low scores and lead changes until the end, exactly the sort of tournament that leaves no room to let up if you want to take the victory.
From a Spanish perspective, the haul was limited. Only Azahara Muñoz managed to make the cut, finishing in 51st place with a total card of 287, one under par, after rounds of 72, 70, 73 and 72. The Malagan was the only one to play the weekend and delivered a solid tournament, without fanfare, but at least with the reward of completing four full rounds. Second event of the year for the Malagan and first made cut. A step forward.
They could not accompany her Julia López, Carolina Chacarra or Carla Tejedo. Julia missed out after a promising opening round of 68 that she could not sustain in the second round, in which she carded an 80, finishing on 148, four over par. Carolina, for her part, fell just on the cut line with rounds of 70 and 74, for a total of 144, even par. Carla also failed to find a rhythm and closed her participation with two cards of 73 and 73, an aggregate of 146, two over par.
Thus ended a week with highlights for Hannah Green, the great specialist at this Los Angeles fixture, and with a somewhat bitter taste for the Armada, which could only count on Azahara Muñoz in the final two rounds. The LPGA Tour continues on its course and leaves in Los Angeles another confirmation: Hannah Green is currently the most in-form player on the planet.
