LPGA TOUR
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Chun Wins Women’s PGA Championship. Aussie Lee Runner Up
In Gee Chun scored a one-shot victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship staged at Congressional Country Club. The 27-year-old Korean produced a stunning wire-to-wire performance to narrowly outlast Australia’s MinJee Lee and America’s Lexi Thompson to claim her third major title. Chun collected the 2015 US Women’s Open and the 2016 The Evian Championship. With her win in France, Chun became just the second player in LPGA Tour history to claim majors as their first two LPGA Tour wins.
Chun led by five shots after round one and by six strokes after 36 holes. The 2016 LPGA Tour Rookie of The Year took a three-shot lead into Sunday after a shaky third round 3-over 75. Chun covered her front nine with four bogeys to go out in 4-over 40. Her first birdie of the day came at the par 5, 11th hole. At this point in the round, she trailed Thomspon by two shots. Chun joined Thompson in the lead with her second birdie of the day at the par 5, 16th hole. Lee shadowed the pair by one shot. With the event on the line, Chun produced two clutch pars to return a 1-under 35 on the back nine to settle at 5-under for the event.
Thompson, who owns 11 LPGA Tour victories but none since 2019, fell out of the lead with a bogey at the 17th hole. The 27-year-old was unable to make a birdie at the 72nd hole to force a playoff. It was her 19th top 10 at a major championship.
Lee was looking to go back-to-back at majors after winning the US Women’s Open three weeks ago. The 26-year-old from Western Australia finished with a final round 2-under 70 that included a birdie at the final hole to share second place with Thompson. Lee has enjoyed a remarkable run at majors with her last five starts resulting in a Win, T5, 12, Win and T2 record.
Fellow Australian Hannah Green finished in a tie for fifth place at 1-under. The 25-year-old, who won the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship, closed with a 3-over 75. Stephanie Kyriacou enjoyed her best finish at a major finishing in a tie for 10th place. The 21-year-old from New South Wales produced all four round at even par 72.
Final Scores
KPMG Women's PGA Championship
1. In Gee Chun -5
T2. Minjee Lee -4
T2. Lexi Thompson -4
4. Atthaya Thitikul -3
T5. Nasa Hataoka -1
T5. Hyo Joo Kim -1
T5. Hannah Green -1
T5. Hye-Jin Choi -1
T5. Sei Young Kim -1
Australians
T10. Stephanie Kyriacou E
T40. Sarah Kemp +5
MC. Su Oh
MC. Katherine Kirk
MC. Sarah Jane Smith
Photo credit: Elsa/ Getty Images
