Toto Japan Classic: Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland won the Toto Japan Classic by four strokes after shooting seven under par in the final round. This was her first LPGA Tour victory.
Momoko Ueda, of Japan, was attempting to clinch a wire-to-wire victory and win this tournament for the third time after earlier victories in 2007 and 2011. Dryburgh, 29, started her final round one shot behind Ueda.
Ueda, who had four errors, including a double-bogey six on the 11th hole, shot a two-over 74 to finish in a tie for fifth place, eight strokes behind champion Drybugh, who shot an outstanding 65 in Shiga.
Gemma Dryburgh is an LPGA Tour Champion! 🏆🏴
The Scottishwoman finishes 20-under to win the TOTO Japan Classic! 👏 pic.twitter.com/MDAmnzIAL9
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 6, 2022
The Aberdeen-born golfer finished the competition on 20 under par to become the third British champion on the LPGA Tour in just over a month. She made birdies on the fourth and seventh holes and gained strokes at holes 11, 13, 14, and 15.
Early in October, Charley Hull of England won the Volunteers of America Classic in Texas before Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England won the LPGA Mediheal Championship a week later to win her first LPGA Tour championship on her 246th appearance.
Victory is “life-changing,” says Dryburgh
Since Catriona Matthew’s victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in 2011 on the LPGA Tour, Dryburgh is the first Scottish player to have done so.
Added Dryburgh: “I joked with my friends last week while I was in Korea by telling them, “I’ll mention you in my speech.” I have to admit, it’s overwhelming.
“Long-term planning and a tonne of effort went into making this a reality. It means a lot since the victory has a profound impact.
I won’t deny that I was anxious, but I was remarkably composed and concentrated on my breathing.
On Sunday, Kana Nagai of Japan tied for second place with Dryburgh on 16 under par after matching the Scot’s 65. Nagai shot eight birdies and just one bogey.
After finishing her week with a five-under 67, Linn Grant of Sweden placed third on 15 under par.
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