Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 4 June 2019

WOMEN’S OPEN winner So Yeon Ryu coming been fully on the tourna-
Continued from Page 17 over to embrace the new ment. Because she hasn't
She has embraced the champion. mastered English, "I didn't
number, answering to it "I felt pretty nervous start- really understand him that
and writing a large "6'' on ing on the holes 16, 17, and much, so I didn't really think
her balls. Her South Korean 18 after opening the large about it," she said.
fan club is called "Lucky lead," Lee6 said. "But I tried Boutier made a double bo-
6." Jeongeun Lee5 tied for the best that I can." gey on the final hole to fall
34th at 4 over, 10 shots be- The victory came a few into a tie for fifth at 3 under.
hind Lee6. days after Tiger Woods' She shot 75. Lexi Thompson,
Lee6 opened a three-shot former swing coach, Hank Ryu and Angel Yin tied for
lead with three holes to Haney, made disparaging second, two shots behind.
play before facing some remarks about women's Thompson shot 73, Ryu 70
nerves with bogeys on golf by predicting a "Ko- and Yin 68.
the 16th and 18th holes to rean" would win and "I'd go Boutier tried to get on No. 18
tighten things up. But when with Lee." in two. "And then if I made Jeongeun Lee6 of South Korea, lines up a putt on the 14th green
during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tourna-
third-round co-leader Ce- Haney was suspended for the putt, then it would be ment, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Charleston, S.C.
line Boutier's blast from a his comments on his PGA best," she said. "But I missed Associated Press
greenside bunker on the Tour SiriusXM radio show the green, so ..."
72nd hole rolled off the when asked who'd win. "I'd Gerina Piller, Jaye Marie in search for a second the LPGA Tour this season.
green, Lee6 had the big- go with Lee," Haney said. Green, Mamiko Higa of Ja- career major. But she too "So looking at her as a rook-
gest win of her life. "If I didn't have to name a pan, and third-round co- struggled early with bogeys ie to play this tournament
"I didn't even expect to first name, I'd get a bunch leaders Yu Liu of China and on the first, third and fourth so well, I'm really proud of
win the tournament this of them right." Haney was Boutier tied for fifth. Piller holes to drop off the pace. her as a fellow competitor
fast," Lee6 said. "I think this suspended for his remarks. was the only under par at "It was a bit of a rough day," and same country girl as
is very lucky that I won this Haney sent Tweets on Sun- 68. Higa and Liu shot 74s. Thompson said. "I got off to well," Ryu said.
major championship tour- day night congratulating Boutier and Liu, the good a pretty bad start. Just over- Higa faded in the final
nament." Lee6, playing two Lee6 and saying his predic- friends and former Duke all wasn't as comfortable, I round after being a major
groups ahead of Boutier, tion was based on statistics teammates, figured to fight guess, over my shots." contender at her first U.S.
was practicing putts when and facts. "Korean women for the title. Instead, both Lee6 is hardly a surprise win- Women's Open. She set the
the Frenchwoman could are absolutely dominating threw away chances early ner. She came in ranked tournament mark for low-
not make the sand shot. the LPGA Tour. If you asked as they combined for three 17th in the world and has est debut with her opening
Lee6 bent down in joy me again, my answer bogeys and a double bo- won six times on the KLPGA 65. She was a stroke in front
when her victory was se- would be the same but gey on the first three holes. Tour. She tied for fifth in this through 36 holes and only a
cure, countrywoman and worded more carefully." Thompson began the event in her 2017 debut shot behind when the final
2011 U.S. Women's Open Lee6 said her focus had round a shot off the lead and has three top 10s on round began. q