AFP – Swedish LPGA rookie Ingrid Lindblad kept her cool to hold on to the lead and win the LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club for her maiden victory on the tour.
Lindblad held a share of the lead heading into the final round and fired a four-under par 68 to fend off threats from Germany’s Ester Henseleit, who posted a brilliant eight-under par 64 and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka who shot a nine-under 63.
The 25-year-old had shared the lead overnight with Japan’s Akie Iwai and American Lauren Coughlin – who both stayed in contention until the death. Lindblad made six birdies and a pair of bogeys in the first 11 holes and parred the last seven. She finished with a 21-under par total of 267 and, in just her third start on the LPGA Tour, was able to avoid a playoff when Iwai bogeyed the final hole.
“You should never not expect it, right? But obviously got it done in a couple starts – just kind of crazy,” said Lindblad of her first win.
“I made a couple birdies on the front nine and kind of just slowed down on the back.
Obviously feel like I could have had a couple more on the back nine. But here we are,” she said.
The Swede had a bit of good fortune when her drive on the par-four 13th went into the trees but bounced back on to the course and she was able to make par.
“I had hit pretty good tee shots on that hole so felt pretty confident. Obviously I think the left miss is almost better than the right because it kicks down in the fairway,” she said.
