Ariya Jutanugarn Wins 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic (WOO HOO!!!!)

Ariya Jutanugarn (click to enlarge)

Thank you, Ariya Jutanugarn. Thank you for giving me the privilege and ineffable joy of watching the first LPGA win for a player representing Thailand. I admit, I cried. This day has been nearly 20 years in the making for me. I’ve been an LPGA fan since Se Ri Pak and Jenny Chuasiriporn battled it out for the 1998 US Women’s Open. Chuasiriporn is an American of Thai heritage. I am an American of half-Thai heritage. My mother (and my stepmother) are Thai. Back then, I thought it would be great one day to see a Thai woman win an LPGA event. Well, let me clarify that statement. Stacy Prammanasudh is an American of half-Thai heritage. So to me she is American and Thai. She has 2 LPGA victories. What I meant was a player representing Thailand. Further clarification, I meant an official LPGA event. Pornanong Phatlum won the 2012 HSBC Brazil Cup, but it was an unofficial event. Ariya Jutanugarn finally made my deepest LPGA wish come true with a 1-shot 14-under victory at the 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

Ariya Jutanugarn (click to enlarge)

I stopped watching LPGA events after the final round of the 2016 ANA Inspiration. So great was my wish not just for a Thai player to win, but specifically Ariya to win, that it just crushed me to see her blow a 2-shot lead with 3 holes to play. This was after seeing her implode at the 2013 Honda Thailand event with a 2-shot lead on the final hole, triple bogeying. Not only did I stop watching LPGA events after ANA, I couldn’t even go to any online forums where they talked about the LPGA. I would still DVR the events in the event a Thai player won. But I’d erase them as soon as I checked a leaderboard when it was over. It was only when flipping through twitter when I saw an official LPGA tweet Saturday that Ariya Jutanugarn was on fire (they used fire emojis). So I watched that recording and decided to give it another go on Sunday. Admittedly I feared heartbreak again. Let me be clear, I root for lots of favorites from lots of countries. But May getting so close multiple times was more than I could bear.

Ariya Jutanugarn (click to enlarge)

Early on, it looked like another come from ahead loss was imminent as Amy Yang came out en fuego, eventually tying May for the lead. However, Yang would stumble coming home. Still, players like Stacy Lewis, Morgan Pressel and Minjee Lee were all chasing Ariya down. Jutanugarn would have to earn this one. She hit some shaky shots on the back 9, including one that nearly went into a hazard…luckily it stayed out. Ultimately, she needed to convert a tough up and down on 18 for par to maintain a 1 shot lead and victory. May admitted her arms and legs were shaking the last 3 holes. That might be true, but the short putt for par was strong and steady, finding the bottom of the cup.

Ariya Jutanugarn (click to enlarge)

There are a lot of Thai players on the LPGA right now, including the 2013 Rookie of the Year (and Jutanugarn sister), Moriya Jutanugarn. I would have taken a win by any of them as the first Thai victory. In years past, I would have been ecstatic about wins from former LPGA players like Virada Nirapathpongporn or Russamee Gulyanamitta. In some ways, it’s fitting that May gets the first win. Those other players are good. Pornanong Phatlum is very good. Moriya might be, too. Ariya Jutanugarn, or May if you will, is special. She is capable of multiple wins…of Major wins. She is bursting with talent in a way that surpasses any Thai LPGA player before her. How far she goes, barring injury, is in her head. If she can handle the nerves, this won’t be the last title she wins.

 

ALL PICS CLICK TO ENLARGE

1 ARIYA JUTANUGARN (-14)

with Ryann O’Toole

 

T2 MORGAN PRESSEL (-13)

 

T2 AMY YANG (-13)

 

T2 STACY LEWIS (-13)

 

5 CAROLINE HEDWALL (-12)

 

LEADERBOARD

Pos	Name	1	2	3	4	Today	Total	Strokes	Purse
1	Ariya Jutanugarn	70	69	63	72	E	-14	274	$195,000
T2	Amy Yang	71	68	69	67	-5	-13	275	$91,733
T2	Stacy Lewis	71	68	68	68	-4	-13	275	$91,733
T2	Morgan Pressel	69	68	70	68	-4	-13	275	$91,733
5	Caroline Hedwall	75	65	68	68	-4	-12	276	$54,362
T6	Candie Kung	69	72	70	66	-6	-11	277	$35,912
T6	Hee Young Park	71	70	69	67	-5	-11	277	$35,912
T6	Minjee Lee	67	70	68	72	E	-11	277	$35,912
T6	Ryann O’Toole	70	67	68	72	E	-11	277	$35,912
T10	Brittany Lang	71	70	70	67	-5	-10	278	$24,819
T10	Gerina Piller	71	68	69	70	-2	-10	278	$24,819
T10	So Yeon Ryu	70	65	71	72	E	-10	278	$24,819
T13	Carlota Ciganda	74	72	68	65	-7	-9	279	$20,953
T13	Pornanong Phatlum	75	65	70	69	-3	-9	279	$20,953
T15	Sarah Jane Smith	70	70	70	70	-2	-8	280	$17,659
T15	Cydney Clanton	71	71	68	70	-2	-8	280	$17,659
T15	Jing Yan	73	68	69	70	-2	-8	280	$17,659
T15	Laetitia Beck	65	73	70	72	E	-8	280	$17,659
T19	Lindy Duncan	75	69	70	67	-5	-7	281	$15,155
T19	Anna Nordqvist	75	66	71	69	-3	-7	281	$15,155
T19	Jodi Ewart Shadoff	73	69	70	69	-3	-7	281	$15,155
T22	Min Lee	72	72	68	71	-1	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Alena Sharp	73	67	71	72	E	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Haru Nomura	72	71	68	72	E	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Mi Hyang Lee	75	68	73	67	-5	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Brittany Lincicome	72	67	71	73	+1	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Caroline Masson	70	68	71	74	+2	-5	283	$12,614
T22	Brittany Altomare	73	69	66	75	+3	-5	283	$12,614
T29	Jennifer Johnson	71	71	71	71	-1	-4	284	$10,147
T29	Paula Reto	71	68	74	71	-1	-4	284	$10,147
T29	Brooke Henderson	72	73	68	71	-1	-4	284	$10,147
T29	Vicky Hurst	69	73	73	69	-3	-4	284	$10,147
T33	Q Baek	71	74	69	71	-1	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Simin Feng	72	70	72	71	-1	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Tiffany Joh	73	69	71	72	E	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Marina Alex	75	70	70	70	-2	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Nontaya Srisawang	74	72	69	70	-2	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Ayako Uehara	72	69	71	73	+1	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Sandra Gal	71	73	68	73	+1	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Gaby Lopez	73	72	70	70	-2	-3	285	$7,805
T33	Hyo Joo Kim	71	68	71	75	+3	-3	285	$7,805
T42	Annie Park	67	71	75	73	+1	-2	286	$6,062
T42	Michelle Wie	71	72	70	73	+1	-2	286	$6,062
T42	Haeji Kang	76	69	68	73	+1	-2	286	$6,062
T45	Rachel Rohanna	74	69	71	73	+1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Ashleigh Simon	73	69	72	73	+1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Alejandra Llaneza	68	73	73	73	+1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Samantha Richdale	72	73	70	72	E	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Austin Ernst	73	69	73	72	E	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Su-Hyun Oh	77	67	68	75	+3	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Christina Kim	70	73	73	71	-1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Ai Miyazato	70	74	72	71	-1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Perrine Delacour	70	70	76	71	-1	-1	287	$4,777
T45	Lee-Anne Pace	71	74	73	69	-3	-1	287	$4,777
T55	Cheyenne Woods	70	75	72	71	-1	E	288	$3,887
T55	Chella Choi	70	74	74	70	-2	E	288	$3,887
T57	Alison Walshe	74	71	70	74	+2	+1	289	$3,558
T57	Beatriz Recari	71	71	74	73	+1	+1	289	$3,558
T57	Karrie Webb	72	73	73	71	-1	+1	289	$3,558
T60	Heather Bowie Young	73	68	74	75	+3	+2	290	$3,229
T60	Sakura Yokomine	73	73	70	74	+2	+2	290	$3,229
T60	Katie Burnett	79	67	72	72	E	+2	290	$3,229
T63	Moriya Jutanugarn	72	74	70	75	+3	+3	291	$2,998
T63	Joanna Klatten	71	73	73	74	+2	+3	291	$2,998
T63	Jessica Korda	73	71	74	73	+1	+3	291	$2,998
T63	Jane Rah	78	67	75	71	-1	+3	291	$2,998
67	Cyna Marie Rodriguez	73	73	72	74	+2	+4	292	$2,834
68	Asako Fujimoto	73	71	71	78	+6	+5	293	$2,767
T69	Dewi Claire Schreefel	75	71	71	77	+5	+6	294	$2,669
T69	Christel Boeljon	71	74	75	74	+2	+6	294	$2,669
71	Christine Song	71	72	75	79	+7	+9	297	$2,603
T72	Karlin Beck	74	73	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Dori Carter	75	72	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Hannah Collier	73	74	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Natalie Gulbis	73	74	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Kim Kaufman	74	73	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Stephanie Kono	70	77	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Briana Mao	77	70	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Stephanie Meadow	75	72	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Sadena Parks	74	73	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Marion Ricordeau	74	73	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Bertine Strauss	75	72	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T72	Caroline Westrup	75	72	MC	MC	–	–	147	–
T84	Ssu-Chia Cheng	76	72	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Julieta Granada	74	74	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Mina Harigae	73	75	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Mi Jung Hur	70	78	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Karine Icher	74	74	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	P.K. Kongkraphan	74	74	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Amelia Lewis	76	72	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Catriona Matthew	75	73	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Kristy McPherson	73	75	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Giulia Molinaro	75	73	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Ji Young Oh	75	73	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Angela Stanford	75	73	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Anne-Catherine Tanguay	76	72	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T84	Yani Tseng	77	71	MC	MC	–	–	148	–
T98	Charley Hull	73	76	MC	MC	–	–	149	–
T98	Min Seo Kwak	75	74	MC	MC	–	–	149	–
T98	Benyapa Niphatsophon	74	75	MC	MC	–	–	149	–
T101	Jacqui Concolino	77	73	MC	MC	–	–	150	–
T101	Katherine Kirk	77	73	MC	MC	–	–	150	–
T101	Giulia Sergas	78	72	MC	MC	–	–	150	–
T104	Sandra Changkija	77	74	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Victoria Elizabeth	76	75	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Lisa Ferrero	70	81	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Jaye Marie Green	75	76	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Nannette Hill	78	73	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Wei-Ling Hsu	77	74	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Megan Khang	81	70	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	SooBin Kim	75	76	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Maude-Aimee Leblanc	76	75	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Ilhee Lee	76	75	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T104	Lee Lopez	76	75	MC	MC	–	–	151	–
T115	Chirapat Jao-Javanil	74	78	MC	MC	–	–	152	–
T115	Prima Thammaraks	78	74	MC	MC	–	–	152	–
T115	Pannarat Thanapolboonyar	79	73	MC	MC	–	–	152	–
T115	Mariajo Uribe	76	76	MC	MC	–	–	152	–
T115	Julie Yang	79	73	MC	MC	–	–	152	–
T120	Paz Echeverria	80	73	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Casey Grice	74	79	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Dani Holmqvist	76	77	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Amy Hung	78	75	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Daniela Iacobelli	78	75	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Sydnee Michaels	75	78	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Grace Na	78	75	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Kelly Shon	80	73	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Thidapa Suwannapura	77	76	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T120	Kris Tamulis	76	77	MC	MC	–	–	153	–
T130	Brianna Do	76	78	MC	MC	–	–	154	–
T130	Nicole Jeray	73	81	MC	MC	–	–	154	–
T130	Felicity Johnson	75	79	MC	MC	–	–	154	–
T130	Ashlan Ramsey	80	74	MC	MC	–	–	154	–
T130	Budsabakorn Sukapan	75	79	MC	MC	–	–	154	–
T135	Jaclyn Jansen	76	79	MC	MC	–	–	155	–
T135	Maria McBride	80	75	MC	MC	–	–	155	–
T135	Kelly Tan	78	77	MC	MC	–	–	155	–
T135	Jiayi Zhou	77	78	MC	MC	–	–	155	–
139	Belen Mozo	78	78	MC	MC	–	–	156	–
T140	Celine Herbin	81	77	MC	MC	–	–	158	–
T140	Demi Runas	80	78	MC	MC	–	–	158	–
142	Ginger Howard	83	76	MC	MC	–	–	159	–
143	Hanule Seo	79	81	MC	MC	–	–	160	–
144	Danielle Kang	75	71	WD	WD	–	–	146