England’s Lottie Woad narrowly missed out on her second LPGA Tour victory of the season after Miyu Yamashita snatched a dramatic play-off victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
Woad was a shot off the halfway lead and remained one back heading into the final day at Blythefield Country Club, where she outlasted Jing Yan and appeared to be holding off a final-round charge from AIG Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita when she moved top of the leaderboard.
The 22-year-old reached the turn in 33 and took advantage of the par-five 14th, before a spectacular bunker hole-out at the par-four 17th gave her a two-shot cushion heading into the par-five 18th.
Woad mixed six birdies with a lone bogey during the final round
Yamashita – playing in the group ahead – birdied the last to close a round-of-the-day 64 and set the clubhouse target at 17 under, which was enough to force a play-off when Woad three-putted from 50 feet for a closing bogey.
The players returned to the par-five 18th for the play-off and both found the green with their third shots, with Woad missing her birdie effort before Yamashita – who started the day eight back – holed from four feet to close out a remarkable third LPGA Tour victory.
How Woad suffered play-off heartbreak
Woad made an early birdie at the second and cancelled out a dropped shot at the next by picking up a shot at the par-three fifth, then posted back-to-back birdies from the eighth to move to 16 under.
She holed from 15 feet to save par at the 13th and then pitched to kick-in range to birdie the par-five next, with Woad unable to turn her impressive bunker hole-out at the par-three 17th into a third LPGA Tour title.
Woad was looking for a second LPGA Tour win in three starts
On the bogey at the 18th, Woad said: “I would always go for it in two, but kind of wishing I didn’t now. Next time I think I should have laid up and tried to chip on, but been going for it every day, so I thought might as well.
“Got a pretty bad lie in the rough and hit an okay shot. Wish I’d got the first putt a little closer and wish I putted first too – watching Cassie’s [Porter] putt tricked me.
“Felt like I hit an okay putt – obviously lipped out on the high side. Miyu played great in the play-off.
Yamashita’s victory is her third LPGA Tour title
“Definitely felt like I played good this week and felt pretty comfortable in the final group the last two days. Just kept myself in it, made a lot of clutch putts, so I’m going to try and shake off this missed one. Hopefully next week is my week instead.”
Wei-Ling Hsu shared third spot with China’s Yan Liu on 15 under, with Minji Kang a further stroke back in fifth ahead of 54-hole leader Yan – who bogeyed the par-five last, Grace Kim, Minami Katsu and Cassie Porter.
What’s next?
The women’s major season continues this week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, held at Hazeltine National in Minnesota, where Minjee Lee is defending champion and Nelly Korda chases a third consecutive major victory.
Live coverage starts on Thursday from 4pm on Sky Sports+ and 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
