Hannah Green has ensured back-to-back titles for Australia at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, emulating the feats of Minjee Lee.
A birdie on the testing 17th hole saw Green take the lead at 19-under and she was able to see her way safely home at Seowon Valley Country Club to clinch her third LPGA title of the year.
She became the first Australian woman since golf great Karrie Webb to win three LPGA tournaments in a year, and joined world No.1 Nelly Korda and No.3 Lydia Ko as the only other golfers to achieve the feat this year.
Green held off fast-finishing French golfer Celine Boutier, who had the round of the day with a 66, including a 31 on the back nine, to finish one stroke back.
The Australian Olympian took a two-shot lead into the final round on Sunday but was joined at the top of the leaderboard at 18 under by Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, who reeled off an eagle and four birdies on the front nine.
Green was one under through her opening nine holes, but her game almost came unstuck at the 11th when her tee shot went wildly left into the rough.
The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship champion hit a provisional shot but was able to find her ball at the base of a tree and hacked it out, managing to only drop one shot.
Hannah Green hits her second shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship 2024 at Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju, South Korea. PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
The 27-year-old West Australian was unable to buy a birdie until the par-4 17th when she skipped ahead of Boutier, while Wannasaen dropped a shot on the same hole to finish at 17 under.
Green held her nerve on the par-4 18th, making par to seal the win before she was joined by her fellow golfers, including compatriot Grace Kim, who sprayed her with champagne.
Defending champ Lee had a round to forget, following up her third-round 66 with a 77 that included five bogeys on the back nine, to finish in a tie for 33rd.
Fellow Australian Gabriela Ruffels carded a final-round 74 to finish in a tie for 46th.
The field in the $US2.2 million ($A3.3 million) event was loaded with eight of the LPGA Tour’s top 10 players.
It also included 17 of the 18 winners this season on the tour.
