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England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff captured her first career LPGA title on Sunday, holding off a host of rivals for a wire-to-wire triumph at the LPGA Mediheal Championship.
Shadoff fired a one-under par 71 to finish 72 holes on 15-under 273 for a one-stroke victory at The Saticoy Club in Somis, west of Los Angeles.
The 34-year-old Briton made her victory breakthrough in her 246th career LPGA start.
“Surreal,” Shadoff said of the feeling. “I’ve waited a long time for this. There have been many times in my career I didn’t think this was ever going to happen so really grateful in this moment.”
Japan’s Yuka Saso made a late charge to shoot 66 and finish second on 274 with fast-closing Georgia Hall of England, late co-leader Paula Reto of South Africa and American Danielle Kang sharing third on 275.
World number 93 Shadoff had not won a title in 12 LPGA seasons but was third at June’s ShopRite Classic, her best result since a runner-up effort at the 2017 British Women’s Open.
After battling injuries and self-doubt, Shadoff can finally say she’s an LPGA champion.
“I’ve been through a lot in the past couple of years, injuries, and last year was really tough. I found it a pretty significant mental challenge to get through that,” Shadoff said.
“There were times during last year I didn’t think I would be playing this year so to be stood here today is really awesome. I didn’t give up on myself. I have a lot to be grateful for.”
Shadoff began the day after a restless night with a four-stroke lead but bogeys at the third and at the par-3 ninth after a birdie at the par-5 eighth left her in a fight for the crown.
“That four-shot lead quickly diminished,” she said. “I tried to stay in the moment and commit to every shot I was hitting.”
She responded with birdies at the 12th and par-5 14th and parred her way to the clubhouse, claiming the trophy with a tap-in par at 18.
“That last one-footer felt like 20 feet to me,” Shadoff said.
Reto, who won her first LPGA title in August at the Canadian…
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Source : yahoo
