FILE – The Philippines’ Yuka Saso watches her drive from the 5th tee in round 2 of the womens golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 5, 2021. (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO / AFP)
American Ryann O’Toole shot an 8-under 64 in the final round to earn her maiden LPGA win by three strokes at the Women’s Scottish Open at Dumbarnie Links in Fife, Scotland on Sunday.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, shot 9-under to finished tied for second with Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul (6-under 66).
Reigning US Open champion Yuka Saso, meanwhile, ended up in joint 15th after finishing with a four-under par 68. The Fil-Japanese, who was 10 shots off O’Toole’s 271, took home $21,266 or a little over P1 million.
O’Toole, 34, started the day in a three-way tie with two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Charley Hull of England. She started the round with birdies on three of the first four holes and finished with eight birdies total in a bogey-free finish.
Jutanugarn, who fell into the three-way tie by shooting par on Saturday, had a 4-under 68 in the final round to finish fourth. Hull finished fifth after shooting 69 on Sunday.
O’Toole, who had never been the leader or co-leader after 54 holes before Sunday, is now the sixth first-time winner on Tour this season. It was her 228th start on the LPGA Tour since turning pro in 2009.
“I still think I’m in shock,” said O’Toole. “I feel like the tears are going to come later when all quiets down.”
“Just the hours spent, the grind … the heartache that this sport brings, constant travel, I just feel like for this moment I hope that it only happens again and again.”
American Ally Ewing tied Ko for Sunday’s low round at 9-under 63 to finish alone in sixth place after starting her round in 25th.
South African Ashleigh Buhai, who shot Saturday’s day’s low round of 67, began the day one back of the leaders but finished in a tie for 12th after firing an even-par round on Sunday.