Sung Hyun Park Wins LPGA Texas Classic

The Volunteers of America Texas Classic at the Old American Golf Club unfolded in an old American golf sort of way, harking back to bygone days when groups were not repaired and leaders often didn’t play together in the final round. Reduced to 36 holes because of weather, nature created a unique situation in which Aditi Ashok, a 20-year-old rising star from India, was in the clubhouse at 7 under par hours before Jenny Shin and Sung Hyun Park, both at 6 under, teed off for their final round.

Park, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and co-Player of the Year, knew what she had to do but stumbled right out of the box, making a bogey on No. 1 to fall two back. Then it was lights out as she eagled No. 4 and made birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 9 to turn at 10 under par. The 24-year-old South Korean closed with a 66 to finish 36 holes at 11-under-par 131 for her third LPGA win, one stroke better than Lindy Duncan. Yu Liu of China was third at 133.




It was a crazy finish with the winner ending her round on No. 18 and the runner-up on No. 9. And Park put an emphatic exclamation mark on her round. Nursing a two-stroke lead when she teed off on her final hole with several of her challengers having enough holes left to catch her, Park put the tournament away when she hit a sweet bump-and-run chip from behind the 18th green that found the cup for a closing birdie. At that point, no one of the course had a realistic chance of closing the gap.

“I knew it was a pretty important shot,” said Park, who has struggled with her short game this year. “It was a difficult shot and I’m glad I made it. I know my stats are a little bit off in my short game, but I’ve been working hard an it paid off today.”