Jutanugarn wins Manulife LPGA Classic in playoff, Henderson top Canadian in 11th

The 21-year-old from Thailand is a virtual lock to move up one position Monday and knock Lydia Ko off her perch as the world’s top-ranked women’s player.

Jutanugarn, who won five times last year, had three birdies over a four-hole stretch around the turn at Whistle Bear Golf Club. She closed with six straight pars for a 3-under-par 69 that left her at 17-under 271.

Thompson, meanwhile, started the day with a one-shot lead and led by four strokes after a birdie on No. 9. Four bogeys on the back nine did her in, with the final one coming when she three-putted on the 18th hole.

“I had like a five-footer, six-footer, and about a four-footer and missed them all,” Thompson said of her last three holes. “If I made those I would have won, but that’s golf I guess.”

Conditions were warm and blustery for the second straight day and preferred lies remained in effect. Thompson finished with an even-par 72 while Chun had a 70.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England (69) was one shot back in fourth place while South Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee (68) and Laura Gonzalez Escallon of Belgium (67) were three behind at 14 under.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was the top Canadian. She finished six strokes back in a tie for 11th after a 71.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp started the day three shots behind Thompson but was unable to make a run. She had a double bogey on her final hole and finished seven strokes back after a 76.

Sharp, who was a co-leader after two rounds, was looking for her first victory in 246 career LPGA Tour starts.

“I played better today than yesterday,” she said. “Just hit one bad shot on the last (hole) and didn’t make any putts, so it’s kind of not sitting well at this moment.”

Henderson, meanwhile, had an uneven round with an eagle, six birdies and six bogeys.

“Obviously I’m a little bit disappointed, but (tied for) 11th, I can’t complain too much,” Henderson said. “I feel like my game is so close to being so great.”

Jutanugarn earned US$255,000 of the $1.7-million purse for the victory. She raised her hand to her mouth in shock after hitting the winning shot.

“I knew it was a good putt,” she said. “I didn’t know it was going to go in.”

Jutanugarn is the 13th different winner on the LPGA Tour this season. Her last victory came at the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Sponsor invite Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., struggled to a final-round 81, leaving the Symetra Tour player at 3-under 285 for the tournament.

She was making her first career weekend appearance at an LPGA Tour event. Marchand was tied for ninth at the start of the day but tumbled into a tie for 46th.

The last Canadian to win on home soil was Jocelyne Bourassa at the 1973 La Canadienne Golf Championship.

Manulife will not return as a sponsor next season. The LPGA Tour has said it hopes to return to the area and that the search is underway for a new title sponsor.

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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Jutanugarn wins Manulife LPGA Classic in playoff, Henderson top Canadian in 11th

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