05 Apr 2021 | Professional golf |
Green finishes strong at ANA Inspiration
by Martin Blake
Hannah Green made a promising run in the final round of the year's first major - the ANA Inspiration in California - to log a top-15 finish.
The 24-year-old Perth star made four birdies and a lone bogey in her closing 69 to end up seven under par overall.
She was 11 shots behind the eventual winner, 21-year-old Thai wunderkind Patti Tavatanakit, who held off Kiwi Lydia Ko for a wire-to-wire victory -- her first major and her first win on the LPGA Tour.
Ko played one of the all-time great final rounds in a major to shoot 62, turning in 29 and creeping within range of a famous victory, but the Thai player held firm down the stretch and take the traditional plunge into Poppie's Pond beside the 18th green.
Rookie professional Gabriela Ruffels also finished nicely to shoot a 71 and finish tied-19th as she begins her quest to play herself to a full membership of the LPGA Tour.
Minjee Lee closed with a 67 to finish tied-25th.
FORMER world No. 1 Jordan Spieth rallied on the final day in his home state to win the Texas Open and record his first victory in almost four years. His closing 66 gave him a two-shot win that is his first since the Open Championship in 2017.
Cameron Davis was the best Australian at T69 although he closed with a 76.
HARRISON Endycott led the Australians on the Korn Ferry Tour with a top-20 finish in the Emerald Coast Classic.