Ayaka Furue becomes first major winner at Amundi Evian Championship
Ayaka Furue of Japan celebrates her victory on the 18th hole of the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 14, 2024.
Evian-les-Bains, France — In France, a battle for history was made on Bastille Day as many players threw punches at each other in a bid to join one of professional golf’s most elite bodies as a major champion. And after many big challenges since joining the LPGA Tour in 2022, it’s finally Ayaka Furue’s turn to step into the major championship spotlight and win the fourth major title for Japan in the history of the LPGA Tour in its 30th anniversary year. The Amundi Championship Evian Championship… “I didn’t believe I could win something big,” said Furue, who had four top 10s in majors before Sunday’s win, most recently at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open. “I’m very happy right now.”
Foe started the day in second place, one stroke behind Steph Kyriacou, in a 13-under group with Lauren Coughlin, and both birdied the par-3 second hole to quickly tie the Australian team.
Coughlin, Furue and Kyriacou then birdied the third hole to move to 15-under, but Furue’s bogey on the fourth hole negated that effort and put her back at 14-under, one stroke behind the leader. Coughlin made a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole to move to 16 under, with Kyriacou leading by one and Fuller by two. Kyriacou then birdied the par-5 seventh hole to tie for the lead with Coughlin in the 16-under group, with Furue two strokes back in the 14-under group with 11 holes to go. Fluo created several grounds to return to 15 under with a birdie in the par 5 9, but Coffin also burned the ninth and climbed 17 under, and put two shots again.
It was quiet for 10 and 11 coffin, flu, and Kiri quo. Houlew dropped a shot in the par 4 12th hole, sitting two shots of Coffin and 14 under, and seemed to be unprecedented. It was unreasonable again. But Furue wasn’t giving up without a fight.
She birdied the par-3 14th hole to get back to 15-under, two behind Coughlin’s pace, then birdied Kiriakou on the 15th to get to 16-under, one back to the 16-under mark held by both Coughlin and Kiriakou under 17. Coughlin stumbled with a bogey on the 16th, but Kiriakou and Furue both birdied to move to 18-under and 17-under with two holes to go. Coughlin’s bogey on the 17th ultimately ended her chances at a major championship, and Kiriakou did the same on the par-4, giving Furue and Kiriakou a chance at their first major title on the final hole, and they finished in a three-way tie for the lead with Patty Tabtanakit, who was leading the clubhouse at 17-under after firing an 8-under 63 in the final round. Kyriacou’s tee shot on the par-5 18th flew left, forcing the Australian to lay up on her second shot, and Fruet’s tee shot easily got caught in the short grass before the LPGA Tour winner decided to go for the green in two, barely clearing the water for an eagle attempt and ultimately winning the overall championship. After a powerful backhand, Kyriacou held three putts from close range for birdie, but Furue’s failure to convert an eagle opportunity would have forced a playoff.
But Furue made the most of the big moment, confidently sinking the eagle putt over a combined 72 holes against players 19 and under to become just the fourth Japanese major champion in LPGA Tour history. “I became a Star Wars fan about a month ago, and since then I’ve grown to love the phrase ‘May the Force be with you,'” Furue said, taking some time to explain his feelings. “So I believe in these words on the 15th hole. This phrase popped into my head and I continued with this phrase: I was obviously scared and very nervous about turning 18. When I was over 18 days, I was nervous and nervous. »» »
This victory has been the first time in Fulls since the first Rolex winner in the open women’s Scotland in 2022. She is the second Japanese player who has acquired an adult this season, joined the Yukasasaso, which captured American women presented by Ally at the Lancaster Country Club, and Fourle is the sixth major history of Amundievian Championship. I’m a player. Their first big victory. “I couldn’t imagine at all, because I did not receive major names in Japan, JLPGA, and I really did not think of doing so on LPGA,” said Furu. “It’s a great honor for me to be the winner of a major championship, but I think I did everything possible to win each tournament. I feel very comfortable with this win, but even just one Tour win was very good for me.
“I feel this tournament, this course, I feel like I can win this tournament because I like this course and I like everything here. Therefore, I am very happy to be able to win here. “
Kirique finally finished his solo second after her last round 67, her best finish, in a large championship. The Thai Tabatani Kit was 63 and finished in a low round of the week of Sunday, finished in connection with the third shot, and finished the fourth in 15 years old. Hae Ran Ryu, from the Republic of Korea, placed fifth with a four-day total of 13 under at Evian Resort Golf Club.
Nelly Korda, No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, tied for 26th at 5 under, while defending champion and Frenchwoman Céline Boutier finished tied for 39th at 3 under. Wake Forest University graduate Rachel Kuhn finished tied for 58th among amateurs in her second Amundi Evian Championship.
