Ayaka Furue comes from behind to win first major at 2024 Amundi Evian Championship

14/07/2024 14:49

As everyone else fell, Ayaka Furue rose to the occasion.

The 24-year-old from Japan played her final five holes Sunday in 5 under to come from behind and win the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship, her first major title. It’s also the second LPGA victory for Furue, who shot 6-under 65 on Sunday to finish at 19 under for the week, but the eagle on the closing hole was enough for the victory.

Playing in the final round with Stephanie Kyriacou, a 23-year-old searching for her first win, and Lauren Coughlin, Furue was three shots behind with five holes to play. Coughlin held the lead all day until back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th dropped her two shots behind the leaders with two to play.

Then on the 17th, Kyriacou had a one-shot advantage before a duffed chip led to a bogey, dropping her into a three-way tie with Furue and Patty Tavatanakit. Kyriacou made birdie on the closing hole to finish solo second.

Tavatanakit played her last four holes in 5 under, including an eagle on the closing hole, to finish at 17 under. She shot 63 on Sunday to finish solo third.