Japan’s Hinako Shibuno birdied the last hole at at Woburn to clinch a stunning win in the AIG Women’s British Open.
The 20 year old, who was ranked 559th in the world at the start of 2019, led by two shots going into the final round, but was soon caught by America’s Lizette Salas in a thrilling final round.
Salas fired the week’s lowest round – a seven-under 65 – but Shibuno had five birdies on the back nine to win by one shot in her first appearance in a major.
England’s Charley Hull and Bronte Law, five behind at the start of the final round, slipped out of contention with rounds of four and six over par, respectively.
Salas finished on 17 under, and was seen practising putts before a potential play-off as Shibuno approached the 18th green, waving and smiling to both sides of the fairway. But the rookie, not only playing in her first major, but also appearing outside Japan for the first time, showed no signs of nerves as she struck a firm 18-foot putt which hit the back of the cup and dropped to secure a memorable victory.
Aiming to win her third major of 2019, world number one Ko Jin-young hit a six-under 66, but that was only good enough for third place, two shots behind Shibuno, with American Morgan Pressel a shot further back.
Shibuno, who with odds of 250/1 to win her first major, has shot up the world rankings to 44th after two wins on the LPGA of Japan Tour, where she is known as the ‘smiling Cinderella’. It was easy to see why as she high-fived fans and posed for selfies before, during and after her rounds. Even as the tournament reached its climax, she ate sweets and joked with her caddie up the 17th and 18th fairways. Then, after clinching a popular victory at Woburn, she giggled while reading a pre-prepared acceptance speech in English.
She admitted that was surprised to see trees on the course, having thought Woburn was a links, but she left the woodland venue £540,000 richer and with scores of new admirers.
There was disappointment for the many local golf fans that turned out hoping to see its home-grown hero, Charley Hull, mount a Sunday charge. Hull who has been a club member at Woburn since she was a junior, started the final day five shots off the lead, but a double bogey on the seventh, followed by two more bogeys on the back nine, saw her second attempt at winning a major at her home club end in failure. Fellow English player Bronte Law, who also started the round five shots adrift, had a similarly poor afternoon, dropping five shots on the front nine and finishing 15 strokes behind the winner.
Georgia Hall got the defense of her title off to a solid enough start, opening with two rounds of 69, but ended the tournament in a tie for 35thafter disappointing weekend efforts of 74 and 73.
France’s Celine Boutier boosted her chances of Solheim Cup selection with a closing 66 to finish as the highest-placed European in sixth, one shot ahead of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda. The prize for the leading amateur went to 16-year Thai player Attaya Thitikul, who finished tied 29th.
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