South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun wins US Women's Open as China’s Feng Shanshan fades
Final round of five-under-par 67 secures first major title at Trump National, with amateur compatriot Choi Hye-jin two shots back in second
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South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun won her first major title on Sunday after firing her second consecutive five-under-par 67 to capture the US Women’s Open as US President Donald Trump watched.
Park, the event’s seventh South Korean winner in 10 years, finished on 11-under at Trump National to defeat 17-year-old South Korean amateur Choi Hye-jin by two strokes.
“I am excited and happy,” Park said. “It feels unreal to a certain extent.”
Deadlocked for the lead with Choi, Park sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-four 17th, the fourth and final birdie of the round on the day’s hardest hole, then moments later chipped inches from the cup and tapped in at the par-five 18th.
“When I was about to hit the fourth shot, my mind just went blank, but my caddie kept assuring me so I calmed down and made my shot, and when it went [so close] I was pleased,” Park said.
Sung Hyun Park, a major champion . #USWomensOpen https://t.co/DN4OeWHS6X— USGA (@USGA) July 16, 2017
“I did not have the best first and second rounds. I wanted to believe in myself for the remaining rounds so that helped, trusting myself.”
In her US Women’s Open debut last year, Park led by two shots after 36 holes but closed with back-to-back 74s and settled for a share of third.
China’s Feng Shanshan leads US Women’s Open field as Trump looks on
Trump, who gave Park a “thumbs up” sign after the victory, watched from an enclosed viewing area near the 15th green.
He was welcomed by most spectators despite outrage sparked by his controversial remarks about women during his presidential campaign.
Two small groups of demonstrators in anti-Trump T-shirts appeared at the enclosure on Sunday, according to USA Today and New Jersey Advance Media.
One had seven people in shirts spelling out “RESIST!” with “This is not normal” on the backs of the shirts. They appeared for five minutes and departed before Trump arrived.
China’s Feng Shanshan overcomes rain and Donald Trump visit to extend US Women’s Open lead
Four people from the women’s rights group UltraViolet sported shirts saying “USGA - Drop Sexist Trump” and they stared silently at Trump as he waved to well-wishers.
World number one Ryu So-yeon and Hur Mi-jung, also from South Korea, shared third with Spain’s Carlotta Ciganda, South Korean Lee Jeong-eun6 and China’s Feng Shanshan – who led after each of the first three rounds – sharing fifth.
Feng, who had only two bogeys in the first 71 holes, closed with a triple bogey to shoot 75.
“Before the last hole I did pretty well. I did a good job hanging in right there because my putting was not really that great,” said Feng, who needed to hole her third shot at 18 to force a play-off and instead overshot the green.
China golf star Feng Shanshan shrugs off jet lag to roar into lead at US Women’s Open
“I don’t know how I hit it that far on the third shot and then I just lost myself after that. Overall, I think I had a great week this week. My second-best finish at the US Open. Still a very good experience.”
Feng was hoping to become the first US Women’s Open wire-to-wire winner since American Hollis Stacy in 1977.
