THE COLONIE, Texas — Charlie Hull put in a little extra time to practice and it paid off big on Sunday when she carded four birdies on the back nine to win the Ascendant LPGA with a 7-under 64.
Hall won on the LPGA Tour for the first time in six years, and the 26-year-old Englishman passed the $1 million mark in earnings for the season.
She relished the last-hour theater at Old American Golf Club as she doused herself in champagne as she held on for a 1-shot victory.
“I find it interesting,” Hal said. “I was so happy when Janet did the eagle at 17. It made me the last bird. It was so much fun.”
Janet is the nickname of China’s Xiyu Lin, and she roared into the mix with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th and then a 35-foot eagle on the par-5 17th. This gave Lin a share of the leadership, but only temporarily.
Hall hit a lob wedge from 78 yards to 4 feet on the 17th and did just that for her final birdie, taking her 1-shot to the final hole.
The pin on the 18th was back with a big slope off the green. Hull walked over to the flag and pulled it a little and saw that it was on the flag’s left neck. Lynn, who closed with a 65, put her approach all over the green.
Lynn’s birdie putt to force the final game lost momentum and missed to the left. She finished third this year and second last month. When it was over, she wiped away her tears.
“It’s funny, my coach and I joke, we’re trying to see how far I can get in the world rankings without winning. I mean, it’s not fun, but it’s fun,” Lynn said. “I mean the other week there are 140 players and I come second. It sucks, but on the other hand it’s good.”
Lydia Coe was also in the mix and was tied for the lead until she missed a few birdie opportunities within 10 feet. She shot a 65 to finish in third place, advancing Ko to the CME Globe standings.
No one could go with Hull. She started her run with a wedge to 5 feet for birdie on No. 12, and then hit a fantastic putt from behind the green on the par-5 13th to 2 feet. On her approach to the 14th, she looked anxious as she was in the air and missed 12 feet for another birdie.
Hull was so dialed in that she had chances from within 10 feet on the next two holes and narrowly missed them. But she stayed ahead until the end.
“I’ve done some good things this year,” he said, who now has two LPGA wins to go along with three titles on the Ladies European Tour. “I told my coach a few weeks ago, ‘This is what we have to work on to get into the winner’s circle.’
“I could make more birds,” she said. “I hit some good putts and rolled on the rim. I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Thailand’s 19-year-old Attaya Thitikul, who won last week in Arkansas, needs a win to regain the No. 1 spot in the women’s world rankings. She shot a 67 to finish alone in fourth, ahead of Nellie Korda for No. 2.
