Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Monday 6 august 2018
Hall wins Women's British

Open for 1st major title

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England not bad." first major and LPGA title,
(AP) — Named in honor of Hall, who receives a check missed a two-foot putt to
a famous Masters victory, of $490,000, became the make double-bogey at
Georgia Hall has her hands first English major winner No. 17. Hall played safe in
on one of the big trophies since Karen Stupples won three-putting from distance
in women's golf at the age this event in 2004, and the in front of Royal Lytham's
of 22. fourth overall along with storied clubhouse and cel-
The Englishwoman reeled Laura Davies and Alison ebrated her first win on the
in long-time leader Por- Nicholas. LPGA Tour. She had never
nanong Phatlum in a grip- She followed Stupples and won on the Ladies Europe-
ping final-round duel at Catriona Matthew — in an Tour, either.
Royal Lytham to win the 2009 at Lytham — as the "It is too good to be true,"
Women's British Open for only British winners of the Hall said. "It was my goal
her first major title on Sun- Women's British Open since when I was nine to win the
day. it achieved major status in British Open. I am so happy.
Hull tapped in for a bogey 2001. "I just had to stay calm and
— her first of the day — at Roared on under blue skies patient. It was very close
the last hole to clinch a by the large gallery desper- up to the last two holes and
two-shot victory over Por- ate for a home winner, the I holed all the putts today." England's Georgia Hall kisses the trophy after winning the
nanong. Hall then hugged 39th-ranked Hall started Ryu So-yeon of South Korea Women's British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, in
her playing partner from the day a shot behind Por- was third on 13 under after Lytham, England, Sunday Aug. 5, 2018.
Thailand before being lifted nanong, who led after the a final-round 70.q Associated Press
off her feet by her caddie, second and third rounds.
father Wayne. From the moment Por-
It was fitting that Wayne, a nanong curled in a long
former two-handicapper left-to-right putt at the sec-
himself, was on the bag ond hole to answer Hall's
to experience the biggest 15-foot birdie at the first, it
moment of his daughter's had the makings of a duel
career. in the Lytham sun.
Georgia was born during And a two-player race for
the 1996 Masters won by the year's fourth major was
English golfer Nick Faldo at definitely established when
Augusta, Georgia. She was both picked up a shot at
named in honor of that vic- No. 4 and Pornanong fol-
tory, which came after Fal- lowed Hall in birdying No.
do overcame a six-stroke 6. That regained a two-shot
deficit to Greg Norman in lead for Pornanong, who
the final round. had also birdied the par-3
Twenty-two years later, Hall fifth hole.
is the pride of English golf Hall was always chasing
just like Faldo was. And the but was given hope when
way Hall kept her compo- Pornanong bogeyed No. 8
sure and kept producing to reduce her lead to one
the shots of her life down shot. Then, when Hall rolled
the stretch, there might be in a 10-foot birdie putt at
more major titles to come. No. 13, they were tied for
Her round of 5-under 67, the first time since the first
which included six birdies, hole.
saw her finish on 17-under Hall took the outright lead
271. for the first time in the tour-
"I was loving it deep down, nament after a 20-foot putt
hitting the shots under pres- for birdie at the 16th hole
sure," said Hall, who barely and went down the last
showed any emotions all with a three-shot lead af-
round. "To get six birdies in ter Pornanong, ranked No.
the final round of a major is 97 and also seeking her