Guseva’s shot at LPGA Tour history falls just short
Nataliya Guseva has come just short in her bold bid to become the first Russian to win on the LPGA Tour.
The 21-year-old tour rookie could not quite match her final group partner A Lim Kim as the South Korean posted a four-under 68 to win the Lotte Championship by two shots in Hawaii on Saturday.
Guseva parred the final five holes in a 69 as she finished runner up, having previously tied for second at the Portland Classic in August.
Kim, who won the US Women’s Open in December 2020, ended a six-hole par streak with a birdie on the par-5 18th and finished at 18 under 270 at breezy Hoakalei Country Club.
The 29-year-old South Korean jumped from 65th to 22nd in the Race to CME Globe standings to secure a spot in the 60-player season finale that pays $US4 million to the winner.
American Auston Kim was third at 15 under after a 67, with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (67) another stroke back.
Australia’s Grace Kim tied for 11th place at nine under after a closing 71, with countrywomen Robyn Choi (72) tied 35th and Steph Kyriacou (73) tied 43rd.
Angela Stanford closed with a 71 to tie for 26th at five under in what could be her final LPGA Tour event. The 46-year-old Texan has seven tour victories.
“I really didn’t get emotional until I was looking at my scorecard,” Stanford said. “I said going into today I wanted to be me, I wanted to play my game. I hit every green on the back nine. Throughout my career my iron play was what I relied on, so that kind of made me get teary-eyed.”
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