Juli Inkster fired a closing four under par 66 to win her second US Women’s Open title after a dramatic and loud final day at Prairie Dunes in Kansas.
Heading into the final round, the American veteran was two shots back from world number one Annika Sorenstam, but fought back to snatch the title with five birdies and a solitary bogey at the par-five 17th to finish at four under-par 276 around this demanding course.
Inkster becomes the second-oldest player to win a Women’s major – the legendary Babe Zaharias was 43 when she won the Women’s US Open in 1954, and Inkster joins Zaharias as the only women to win two majors after turning 40.
“I hope I don’t wake up for a while. It was awesome. I think to win at any age is tough – 42 is just a little tougher,” said the American Solheim Cup star.
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| Carriedo – best finish in Major |
Carriedo finished in fourth place on four over par, her best ever finish in a major, one shot behind Australian Shani Waugh.
Scots Mhairi McKay and Janice Moodie both earned valuable Solheim Cup points with top ten finishes. McKay finished in sixth place alone on six over par, accumulating her first Solheim Cup points in the campaign, with Moodie, rising from 17th to 14th spot in the 2002 ranking, one shot behind in a five-way tie for seventh spot.
And Lynnette Brooky from New Zealand narrowly missed out on a top ten finish with a final round 73. The 34-year-old from Wellington, who had to pre-qualify for the event, finished in 12th spot on eight over par.
Final leaderboard: 276 – Juli Inkster 67-72-71-66 278 – Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 70-69-69-70 283 – Shani Waugh (Aus) 67-73-71-72 284 – Raquel Carriedo (Spa) 75-71-72-66 285 – Se Ri Pak (Kor) 74-75-68-68 286 – Mhairi McKay (Gbr) 70-75-71-70 287 – Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 73-72-74-68, Kelli Kuehne 70-76-72-69, Beth Daniel 71-76-71-69, Laura Diaz 67-72-77-71, Janice Moodie (Gbr) 71-72-71-73 288 – Kelly Robbins 71-74-74-69, Joanne Morley (Gbr) 78-68-73-69, Rachel Teske (Aus) 75-71-72-70, Stephanie Keever 72-71-73-72, Lynnette Brooky (Nzl) 73-73-69-73, Jill McGill 71-70-69-78 289 – Grace Park (Kor) 71-77-71-70, Donna Andrews 74-74-70-71, Beth Bauer 74-72-71-72, Lorie Kane (Can) 69-77-69-74
