Photo courtesy of Golf Australia
World No. 6 Ha Na Jang of South Korea has blown away the red hot field to win the ISPS Handa Women`s Australian Open.
Jang, 24, conjured a remarkable finishing stretch and iced her cake with an eagle from long range at the 17th, then a brilliant birdie at the 18th to finish at 10-under par
Her round of 69, four-under, equalled the low round of the day but given that it was done in the toughest of the conditions, with gusty winds, it was a heroic performance by the Korean and it crushed the hopes of everyone around her.
Not even overnight leader Lizette Salas of the United States, nor Australia`s great hope Su Oh, also playing in the final group, could stave her off, and Jang posted her score and waited for the others to limp in.
The smiling Jang is immensely popular with the crowds, always so willing to engage, and she is a great winner of the national championship. Her back nine of 31 to a par of 36 will go into the annals, a piece of sporting genius with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th holes as well as the eagle at 17 when she launched into her characteristic celebration.
She won by a shot from Denmark`s Nanna Madsen, who closed with an even-par 73 and finished at seven-under having gained entry into the tournament by pre-qualifying at The Grange Golf Club on Tuesday.
Australia`s Minjee Lee rattled home with a 70 to leap up to a tie for third with compatriot Sarah Jane Smith, Thailand`s world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn and the defending champion Japan`s Haru Nomura, while rookie Hannah Green continued to impress finishing in a tied for 7th place.
Victorian Su Oh had a disappointing final round, carding a 77 to tie 14th, while American Lizette Salas, who had led by as many as three shots as she walked up the 11th hole today, fell away badly to record a 78 and finish tied-seventh.
FINAL LEADERBOARD: www.womensausopen.com/scores