A first for the Vare Trophy was in play late Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship. Since the LPGA started handing out the low-scoring award in 1953, there had never been multiple winners in its history. But with an infinitesimally slight difference down to the millionths decimal point, the LPGA projected that if Hae Ran Ryu, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, and Ayaka Furue, this season’s Evian Championship winner, both shot three-under 69s in the final round at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., the award would be tied.

Ryu did her part for the historic mark, as her final 10-footer for birdie ended a rotation shy of the cup, closing the CME with a 69. Furue, at three under par for her round with three to play, birdied the par-5 17th for the tiebreaker and closing with a 68 to win the award with a 69.99 season average, .01 better than Ryu.

Even without the tie, history was made, as Furue became the first Japanese native to win the award and its Hall of Fame point. “I feel the winning the Vare Trophy is such a difficult thing to achieve, and I think very happy to have this trophy in my hands right now.” Furue said.

Interestingly, Furue, 24, actually had the third-lowest scoring average on tour this season, trailing CME winner Jeeno Thitikul (69.33) and World No. 1 Nelly Korda (69.56). But the pair didn’t play in the minimum number of rounds to qualify, each of them dealing with injuries. Thitikul only started her season at the Chevron Championship in April due to tendon issue with her left thumb, while Korda had issues with her neck that kept her out of the closing Asian swing. In early November, Korda locked up Player of the Year honors, the other year-long award with a Hall of Fame point.

Another big award was still on the line Sunday: Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year honors. Jin Hee Im had to finish the CME in at least fourth place to pass Japan’s Mao Saigo but ended up T-42. Saigo, 23, locked up the honors with T-25 finish in the finale, accomplishing one of her two season-long goals of making it into the CME and becoming Rookie of the Year.

Mao Saigo poses with the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award, Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand poses with the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 Trophy, and Ayaka Furue of Japan poses with the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy after the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship.

Michael Reaves

“I’m really, really happy,” Saigo said.

Saigo won the award despite not winning on tour this year. She posted seven top-10s, highlighted by her second place in the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada back in June.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com