US Women’s Open: Solheim Cup star Maja Stark...

Solheim Cup star Maja Stark outlasted world No 1 Nelly Korda to assert a maiden main title with a powerful two-shot victory on the US Ladies’s Open.

Stark took a one-shot lead into the ultimate day at Erin Hills and by no means left prime spot throughout an intriguing remaining spherical, the place the chasing pack threatened to place stress on the Swede with out ever with the ability to transfer alongside her.

The 25-year-old may afford a bogey-bogey end to her final-round 72 and nonetheless end two away from Rio Takeda and Korda, who posted a one-under 71 however prolonged her look forward to a primary win of the season.

Stark ended the week on seven beneath and is the primary European winner of the US Ladies’s Open since Annika Sorenstam in 2006, with the win additionally securing her the primary prize of $2.4m.

Hyejin Choi and Ruoning Yin shared fourth spot with Mao Saigo, who was chasing back-to-back main titles after April’s Chevron Championship success, whereas England’s Charley Hull ended tied-Twelfth after dropping three photographs over the past 4 holes of her final-round 71.

How Stark claimed main breakthrough at Erin Hills

Beginning the ultimate spherical one forward of Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, Stark opened with 5 straight pars earlier than doubling her benefit by rolling in a 20-foot birdie on the par-three sixth.

Korda – taking part in two teams forward – responded to a bogey on the identical par-three by registering back-to-back birdies over the following two holes, which moved her inside one of many lead after Stark bogeyed the par-five seventh.

A two-shot swing noticed Stark finish a run of pars with a 15-foot birdie on the eleventh on the identical time Korda make a three-putt bogey on the thirteenth, placing the in a single day chief three forward, with each gamers lacking eagle makes an attempt on the par-five subsequent however tapping in for birdies.

Korda had been unable to shut on Stark over the closing holes after which bogeyed the par-five final, having watched a pitch roll again to her ft from off the again of the inexperienced, which gave Stark a four-shot buffer to see her via the closing holes.

Stark elect to put up from the tough on her technique to a bogey on the par-four seventeenth, then did the identical on the final earlier than two-putting for bogey to finish the most important win of her profession.

Korda was joined on 5 beneath by Takeda, who bogeyed her penultimate gap and matched Stark’s closing 72, whereas former main champion Hinako Shibuno was inside one of many lead till three dropped photographs over the ultimate 4 holes.

Stark’s taking part in associate Lopez Ramirez triple-bogeyed her remaining gap to signal for a seven-over 79 and drop to tied-Nineteenth, with England’s Lottie Woad ending because the lowest beginner and in a share of thirty first spot.

Stark shocked by efficiency throughout main glory

Maja Stark: “Earlier than this week, I used to be frightened that I wasn’t actually going to play respectable golf for some time as a result of it felt prefer it was so distant. So this simply feels large.

“You all the time type of know that it (main victory) is feasible, however there are such a lot of good golfers on this Tour. I did not assume I might have the ability to do it this week – I will be trustworthy to say that.

Nelly Korda: “Positively performed fairly nicely immediately. Simply did not see any of my putts actually drop on the again 9. If something, type of made a foolish three-putt, however then bounced again with a pleasant birdie. It does sting to come back up brief.

“On the finish of the day, the work that I have been placing in, particularly all through the beginning of the season, to check it on situations just like the US Ladies’s Open the place you are examined mentally, you are testing your sport in each division, and to play fairly strong golf reveals that I have been working onerous.”

What’s subsequent?

The LPGA Tour heads to New Jersey for the ShopRite LPGA Traditional, starting on Friday, whereas the following ladies’s main is the KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship – dwell from June 19-22 on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.