Kyriacou shines but can't catch Thitikul in LPGA event
Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open.
Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career.
Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone.
Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey.
It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way.
The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet.
Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin.
Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey.
So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play.
On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th.
"I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today."
Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72).
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The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Debutant's goal helps Matildas past incensed Argentina
Debutant Kahli Johnson has shone as an inexperienced Matildas claimed a 2-0 win over Argentina, who were incensed by the game's refereeing, to ensure Tom Sermanni's 150th game at the helm proved a happy one. Johnson headed home a wonderful cross from Charli Grant in the 38th minute in front of 43,020 fans at Marvel Stadium. Kaitlyn Torpey added a second when she attempted to launch a cross into the area but shanked it and watched on in disbelief as it nestled in the top corner. "It was pretty surreal," she said. "Until that moment, I was kind of just focused on doing my job. I was just like running, get back post, watching the cross from Charli and when it hit the back of the net, it was pretty cool. "Obviously, my celebration. I don't think I believed what happened and I still don't think I have." Replays showed the attacker was offside but there is no VAR in friendlies and Johnson won't care. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" she quipped. Johnson, who had scored three goals in six games for Calgary Wild in Canada's Northern Super League, was among Australia's best, impressing with her deft footwork and strength on the ball. Australia doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Kaitlyn Torpey shanked a cross into the top corner. Interim boss Sermanni, who has coached the Matildas across three stints, appears likely to finish up after Monday night's second game in Canberra. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team," he said. "And if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had." Joe Montemurro is widely expected to take on the full-time job after the current international window. Sermanni has consistently debuted players across his three tenures and relished in Johnson, 21, being the latest success story. "It still feels as good as ever," he said. "It feels great when see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly, then get them on the field and start them and it makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played tonight." In rare post-match scenes after a friendly, Argentina coach German Portanova teed off on the referees, indicating Australia had received the rub of the green from Thai official Pansa Chaisanit. "The first goal is offside," Portanova said through an interpreter. "I know that this was a celebration of the Matildas. But we came here to compete, and we came here looking ahead to the Copa America and wanting to do our best. "But believe me when I say, when it was one against the other, (calls were made) in favour of Australia. "Trying to play with this style of refereeing does make me angry, very angry - when we just see these fouls against us over and over throughout the game, the referee highlighting things that our team has done that just simply haven't happened. "When these are happening and we see once again awarded to the other team, this is where we tend to lose confidence and we're not able to play our game. I honestly think that with a fairer referee, we would be there." Sermanni dismissed the suggestion things had gone Australia's way, bar the offside goal. The Matildas' starting line-up had just 438 combined caps heading into the game - with Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy claiming 293 of them. Captain Steph Catley and Arsenal teammates Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross didn't play after arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold aren't in the current squad. But Australia still had 16 shots (six on target) to six, while Argentina didn't register a shot on target until the 80th minute. Debutant Kahli Johnson has shone as an inexperienced Matildas claimed a 2-0 win over Argentina, who were incensed by the game's refereeing, to ensure Tom Sermanni's 150th game at the helm proved a happy one. Johnson headed home a wonderful cross from Charli Grant in the 38th minute in front of 43,020 fans at Marvel Stadium. Kaitlyn Torpey added a second when she attempted to launch a cross into the area but shanked it and watched on in disbelief as it nestled in the top corner. "It was pretty surreal," she said. "Until that moment, I was kind of just focused on doing my job. I was just like running, get back post, watching the cross from Charli and when it hit the back of the net, it was pretty cool. "Obviously, my celebration. I don't think I believed what happened and I still don't think I have." Replays showed the attacker was offside but there is no VAR in friendlies and Johnson won't care. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" she quipped. Johnson, who had scored three goals in six games for Calgary Wild in Canada's Northern Super League, was among Australia's best, impressing with her deft footwork and strength on the ball. Australia doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Kaitlyn Torpey shanked a cross into the top corner. Interim boss Sermanni, who has coached the Matildas across three stints, appears likely to finish up after Monday night's second game in Canberra. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team," he said. "And if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had." Joe Montemurro is widely expected to take on the full-time job after the current international window. Sermanni has consistently debuted players across his three tenures and relished in Johnson, 21, being the latest success story. "It still feels as good as ever," he said. "It feels great when see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly, then get them on the field and start them and it makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played tonight." In rare post-match scenes after a friendly, Argentina coach German Portanova teed off on the referees, indicating Australia had received the rub of the green from Thai official Pansa Chaisanit. "The first goal is offside," Portanova said through an interpreter. "I know that this was a celebration of the Matildas. But we came here to compete, and we came here looking ahead to the Copa America and wanting to do our best. "But believe me when I say, when it was one against the other, (calls were made) in favour of Australia. "Trying to play with this style of refereeing does make me angry, very angry - when we just see these fouls against us over and over throughout the game, the referee highlighting things that our team has done that just simply haven't happened. "When these are happening and we see once again awarded to the other team, this is where we tend to lose confidence and we're not able to play our game. I honestly think that with a fairer referee, we would be there." Sermanni dismissed the suggestion things had gone Australia's way, bar the offside goal. The Matildas' starting line-up had just 438 combined caps heading into the game - with Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy claiming 293 of them. Captain Steph Catley and Arsenal teammates Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross didn't play after arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold aren't in the current squad. But Australia still had 16 shots (six on target) to six, while Argentina didn't register a shot on target until the 80th minute. Debutant Kahli Johnson has shone as an inexperienced Matildas claimed a 2-0 win over Argentina, who were incensed by the game's refereeing, to ensure Tom Sermanni's 150th game at the helm proved a happy one. Johnson headed home a wonderful cross from Charli Grant in the 38th minute in front of 43,020 fans at Marvel Stadium. Kaitlyn Torpey added a second when she attempted to launch a cross into the area but shanked it and watched on in disbelief as it nestled in the top corner. "It was pretty surreal," she said. "Until that moment, I was kind of just focused on doing my job. I was just like running, get back post, watching the cross from Charli and when it hit the back of the net, it was pretty cool. "Obviously, my celebration. I don't think I believed what happened and I still don't think I have." Replays showed the attacker was offside but there is no VAR in friendlies and Johnson won't care. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" she quipped. Johnson, who had scored three goals in six games for Calgary Wild in Canada's Northern Super League, was among Australia's best, impressing with her deft footwork and strength on the ball. Australia doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Kaitlyn Torpey shanked a cross into the top corner. Interim boss Sermanni, who has coached the Matildas across three stints, appears likely to finish up after Monday night's second game in Canberra. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team," he said. "And if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had." Joe Montemurro is widely expected to take on the full-time job after the current international window. Sermanni has consistently debuted players across his three tenures and relished in Johnson, 21, being the latest success story. "It still feels as good as ever," he said. "It feels great when see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly, then get them on the field and start them and it makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played tonight." In rare post-match scenes after a friendly, Argentina coach German Portanova teed off on the referees, indicating Australia had received the rub of the green from Thai official Pansa Chaisanit. "The first goal is offside," Portanova said through an interpreter. "I know that this was a celebration of the Matildas. But we came here to compete, and we came here looking ahead to the Copa America and wanting to do our best. "But believe me when I say, when it was one against the other, (calls were made) in favour of Australia. "Trying to play with this style of refereeing does make me angry, very angry - when we just see these fouls against us over and over throughout the game, the referee highlighting things that our team has done that just simply haven't happened. "When these are happening and we see once again awarded to the other team, this is where we tend to lose confidence and we're not able to play our game. I honestly think that with a fairer referee, we would be there." Sermanni dismissed the suggestion things had gone Australia's way, bar the offside goal. The Matildas' starting line-up had just 438 combined caps heading into the game - with Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy claiming 293 of them. Captain Steph Catley and Arsenal teammates Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross didn't play after arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold aren't in the current squad. But Australia still had 16 shots (six on target) to six, while Argentina didn't register a shot on target until the 80th minute.
The Advertiser
25-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Iwai hits Maya rivals for six as Ruffels' hopes fade
Chisato Iwai has taken a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a six-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. It was all too much for the rest of the field, including Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead. She made only one birdie in her round of 76, finishing 11 shots adrift of the leader. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way to her first LPGA title. "My mental is so calm, calm every day, every time," Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished with a 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. But it did not take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn it into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No.6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too," Bae said. "So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament." The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda, of Japan, also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Robyn Choi was the highest-placed Australian, a final-round 70 giving her a share of ninth place, a shot ahead of Karis Davidson and two in front of Ruffels. Sarah Kemp finished six over after a final-round 73. Chisato Iwai has taken a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a six-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. It was all too much for the rest of the field, including Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead. She made only one birdie in her round of 76, finishing 11 shots adrift of the leader. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way to her first LPGA title. "My mental is so calm, calm every day, every time," Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished with a 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. But it did not take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn it into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No.6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too," Bae said. "So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament." The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda, of Japan, also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Robyn Choi was the highest-placed Australian, a final-round 70 giving her a share of ninth place, a shot ahead of Karis Davidson and two in front of Ruffels. Sarah Kemp finished six over after a final-round 73. Chisato Iwai has taken a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a six-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. It was all too much for the rest of the field, including Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead. She made only one birdie in her round of 76, finishing 11 shots adrift of the leader. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way to her first LPGA title. "My mental is so calm, calm every day, every time," Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished with a 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. But it did not take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn it into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No.6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too," Bae said. "So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament." The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda, of Japan, also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Robyn Choi was the highest-placed Australian, a final-round 70 giving her a share of ninth place, a shot ahead of Karis Davidson and two in front of Ruffels. Sarah Kemp finished six over after a final-round 73. Chisato Iwai has taken a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a six-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. It was all too much for the rest of the field, including Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead. She made only one birdie in her round of 76, finishing 11 shots adrift of the leader. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way to her first LPGA title. "My mental is so calm, calm every day, every time," Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished with a 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. But it did not take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn it into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No.6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too," Bae said. "So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament." The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda, of Japan, also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Robyn Choi was the highest-placed Australian, a final-round 70 giving her a share of ninth place, a shot ahead of Karis Davidson and two in front of Ruffels. Sarah Kemp finished six over after a final-round 73.
West Australian
25-05-2025
- West Australian
Iwai hits Maya rivals for six as Ruffels' hopes fade
Chisato Iwai has taken a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a six-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. It was all too much for the rest of the field, including Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead. She made only one birdie in her round of 76, finishing 11 shots adrift of the leader. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way to her first LPGA title. "My mental is so calm, calm every day, every time," Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished with a 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. But it did not take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn it into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No.6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too," Bae said. "So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament." The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda, of Japan, also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Robyn Choi was the highest-placed Australian, a final-round 70 giving her a share of ninth place, a shot ahead of Karis Davidson and two in front of Ruffels. Sarah Kemp finished six over after a final-round 73.
