
No joy for Leona Maguire as Koreans Im and Lee win Dow Championship
American duo Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson closed with a 60 to set the target at 20 under, but lost in a foursomes format playoff to Koreans Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee.
Lee made an eight-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole before Khang missed from five feet to extend the playoff.
Im and Lee, who closed with a 62, are in their second year on the LPGA Tour.
It was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA, with Im winning six titles to Lee's five.
There was also a maiden win in the US for Aldrich Potgeiter, who at 20 years, 9 months and 16 days became the youngest South African to win on the PGA Tour.
The former Amateur Championship winner won the Rocket Classic when he beat Max Greyserman on the fifth extra hole at Detroit Golf Club after Chris Kirk had been eliminated from the playoff with a bogey at the second tie hole.
A birdie from 18 feet on the par-three 15th clinched it for Potgieter.
Kirk missed a nine-footer to win on the first tie hole but dropped out of the playoff after missing a four footer for par at the second.
Potgieter was two strokes ahead entering the final round and closed with a three-under 69 to tie on 22 under with Greyserman and Kirk, who both shot 67.
'It was definitely a tough day,' Potgieter said. 'The start didn't go my way, I struggled to make putts, left a lot short.
'Finally got one to the hole, and I just saw the ball roll end over end, and I knew it was going to go in.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
French Open champ Coco Gauff suffers stunning first-round defeat as Wimbledon shocks continue
Twenty-four days since lifting the title at Roland Garros, the stunned American second seed was beaten 7-6 (3) 6-1 in a major upset. The resounding loss was the 21-year-old's second round-one exit in three years in SW19 following defeat to compatriot Sofia Kenin at this stage in 2023. While dejected world number two Gauff delivered nine double faults and only six winners compared with 29 unforced errors in an erratic display, Nottingham Open runner-up Yastremska produced the performance of her career. 'It was a great match – I was really on fire,' the 25-year-old said on court following her maiden victory over Gauff at the fourth attempt 'Playing against Coco it is something special. She's a great player and a great person. I enjoyed a lot and these courts are made for the greatest players so I'm very grateful to be on this court. 'My preparation before the grass season didn't go very well – I got sick at Roland Garros and I only trained two days on grass. It was pretty unexpected but it has been a great season for me. I love playing on grass, I feel like this season we are friends! 'I hope the road will continue, and it is a pleasure being here.' Earlier, world number three Jessica Pegula struggled to explain her shock exit as she praised the 'insane' performance of opponent Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Last year's US Open runner-up was beaten 6-2 6-3 in just 58 minutes as Italian world number 116 Cocciaretto celebrated the greatest win of her career. Asked what went wrong, the 31-year-old American, who lost in the first round of a grand slam for the first time since the 2020 French Open, replied: 'I don't know. She played absolutely incredible tennis. ADVERTISEMENT 'Do I think I played the best match ever? No. But I definitely don't think I was playing bad. 'It's really a bummer to lose. I haven't lost first round of a slam in a very long time, so that sucks. 'I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match it today.' Cocciaretto, who had only once before defeated a top-10 player, spectacularly turned the tables on Pegula, having suffered a 6-4 6-0 round-three loss to her in SW19 in 2023. Barbora Krejcikova avoided being added to the short list of reigning champions to suffer first-round eliminations by battling back to beat Eastbourne Open runner-up Alexandra Eala in three sets. The 29-year-old Czech was in danger of joining compatriot Marketa Vondrousova and 22-time grand slam winner Steffi Graf in the history books. But, having come into the championship nursing a thigh issue after struggling for form and fitness all year, she dug in to progress 3-6 6-2 6-1 against 20-year-old Filipino Eala on Centre Court. 'Six months ago, I was in a lot of pain with my back and I didn't really know how my career is going to go,' Krejcikova said in her on-court interview. 'I'm super happy and super excited that I can be here and that I can play on such a great court.' Two-time champion Petra Kvitova bid farewell to Wimbledon following a 6-3 6-1 loss to 10th seed Emma Navarro. The 35-year-old wild card, who returned to the tour in February following the birth of son Petr last summer, intends to retire after this year's US Open. Kvitova was a surprise winner of a maiden grand slam title at the All England Club in 2011 thanks to victory over Maria Sharapova before beating Eugenie Bouchard in the 2014 final. Speaking on court, she said: 'Thank you for the atmosphere, it was wonderful to play on this beautiful court. Congrats Emma. I wish we could have played for a bit longer. I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon and I did it twice so this is something very special. 'I will miss Wimbledon, I will miss tennis, I will miss you fans but I am ready for the next chapter of life as well. I can't wait to be back as a member.' Five-time major winner Iga Swiatek overcame Polina Kudermetova 7-5 6-1, while 18-year-old seventh seed Mirra Andreeva beat Mayar Sherif 6-3 6-3. But fifth seed Zheng Qinwen was knocked out by Czech world number 81 Katerina Siniakova in three sets. Queen's champion Tatjana Maria, who reached the semi-finals in 2022, lost in three sets to American Katie Volynets while Eastbourne winner Maya Joint was beaten by Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova.


The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Coco Gauff, 21, OUT in first-round in biggest shock at this year's Wimbledon against Ukraine sensation Dayana Yastremska
COCO GAUFF lost her earring, her serving action AND her Wimbledon hopes in the biggest day two shock of the lot. Second seed and crowd favourite Court One roof in a late night upset. 3 Coco Gauff was beaten in round one on No1 Court Credit: Getty 3 Gauff, 21, was sub-par on No1 Court Credit: Getty 3 Dayana Yastremska celebrates her brilliant win Credit: EPA But after leaving her left earring behind on the baseline during the second set, it was the disappearance of her serve that sent the French Open winner, 21, spinning out in the opening round of SW19 for the second time in three years. Two double faults in the first set tie break, after coming back from a break down, cost Gauff the opener. And with the serving gremlins resurfacing at the clutch end of the second, with three more doubles as the pressure mounted, Gauff's tame half-volley from the back of the court limped in to the bottom of the net. Gauff, who stalked off the court with a grim expression, followed fellow American and third seed Jessica Pegula and Olympic champion and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen out. READ MORE WIMBLEDON Speaking on court after the match, Yastremska said: 'Playing Coco is something special but this is the first time I've beaten her. "I was really on fire. I even have fire on my nails ." The match had originally been scheduled to take place on Centre Court, but was moved to No1 Court following long matches on Centre. No1 Court was also the setting of Gauff's Most read in Tennis THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at


Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Every person has a brolly' – Temperatures soar past 34C as Wimbledon comes close to its hottest day ever
The temperature reached 34.2C by mid-afternoon, edging closer to the tournament's record high of 35.7C set in 2015. It followed a scorching Monday that provisionally broke the record for the hottest opening day, with 29.7C logged at Kew Gardens. Spectators in the famous Wimbledon queue came prepared - many bringing umbrellas, fans, and wine to cope with the conditions. Some were spotted napping in the early-morning heat, while others used towels and hats to shield themselves from the sun. Even straw hats sold out at the Wimbledon shop by early afternoon as fans scrambled for shade in the scorching heat Anjon Saidy-Khan, 32, said: "We saw the news – it looks set to be even hotter today so we needed to be prepared. "If you saw a picture, you'd think it was pouring it down - every other person has a brolly." Centre Court hosted world number two Coco Gauff and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, who both began their campaigns in sweltering sunshine. Among the guests braving the heat in the Royal Box were Cate Blanchett, Rebel Wilson and Russell Crowe - the latter remaining suited and booted despite the weather. Sarah Lancashire wore a white summer dress with a blazer over her shoulders, while Molly-Mae Hague arrived in a camel-coloured shirt dress. On the court, Dan Evans booked his place in the second round with a straight-sets win over fellow Briton Jay Clarke, setting up a potential showdown with Djokovic. But there were early exits for Heather Watson, Francesca Jones, Jodie Burrage, George Loffhagen and Johannus Monday, who was backed by around a dozen friends from his hometown of Cottingham, Yorkshire. Tuesday's action followed dramatic scenes on Monday when play was paused after a woman fainted in the stands during Carlos Alcaraz's match. The defending champion rushed to help, handing her a bottle of water as medics arrived. World number one Jannik Sinner stayed cool to reach the second round of Wimbledon while several of his fellow seeds including Italian compatriot Lorenzo Musetti and American hope Jessica Pegula crashed and burned on a sizzling Tuesday. Djokovic will continue his bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and standalone 25th Grand Slam title when the 38-year-old Serb will play Frenchman Alexandre Muller later when conditions improve after a second day of stifling heat. A red-hot Sinner effortlessly eased through beating fellow Italian and close friend Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0 in a victorious return to the Grand Slam stage after his epic French Open final defeat by Carlos Alcaraz last month. "First round matches are never easy, so I'm very happy about today. Obviously, for Italian tennis, a bit unfortunate," Sinner told reporters. "I know him quite well as a person. I tried to put away the friendship for a couple of hours. So it's all good." Sinner's other friend Musetti, last year's semi-finalist, was dumped out by Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, who prevailed 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 on a muggy Court Two. Wimbledon dark horse Alexander Bublik, seeded 28th, was also unable to avoid the exit door, as the Kazakh showman was dragged into battle by Spaniard Jaume Munar and beaten 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 to continue the exodus of seeded men's players. Taylor Fritz let out a massive roar but it might as well have been a sigh of relief after the fifth-seeded American moved past big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(6) 6-7(8) 6-4 7-6(6) 6-4 in a match carried forward from Monday. His American compatriot Tommy Paul took out Briton Monday with little fuss, the 13th seed cruising 6-4 6-4 6-2, but it was the end of the road for 30th seed Alex Michelsen who fell 6-2 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) to Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic. World number three Alexander Zverev was dumped on the seeds scrapheap after losing a two-day, five-set marathon to Arthur Rinderknech. The German, a three-time grand slam finalist, was beaten 7-6 (3) 6-7 (8) 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4 by Frenchman Rinderknech in a match carried over from Monday evening. In fact, it was so long - at four hours and 40 minutes – that it actually started in June and finished in July. Zverev is the fourth top-10 player to crash out in the first round at this year's Championships - and the highest-ranked - joining Musetti, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev through the exit door. On the women's side, defending champion Barbora Krejcikova was tested by promising 20-year-old Filipina Alexandra Eala, but she found best form to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 on her return to Centre Court after last year's surprise triumph. "I mean, what the hell [kind of tennis] she played in the first set?" said Krejcikova, praising her opponent. "She was smashing the ball and cleaning the lines, so wow, wow. She's going to be really good in a couple of years." While Eala missed her chance to make history, Zeynep Sonmez became the first Turkish woman to reach the second round at the grasscourt Grand Slam when she battled past Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 7-6(5) 6-3. Third seed Pegula was unable to put up a fight as she fell 6-2 6-3 in 58 minutes to Elisabetta Cocciaretto before Olympic champion and fifth seed Qinwen Zheng was beaten 7-5 4-6 6-1 by Czech Katerina Siniakova. Five-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek faced a tight opening set against Polina Kudermetova but the eighth seed won 7-5 6-1 while Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva advanced after a 6-3 6-3 victory over Mayar Sherif. Victoria Mboko found out a few hours before she faced Magdalena Frech that she had entered the main draw as a lucky loser due to Anastasia Potapova's pullout and the Canadian teenager rode her luck to stun the 25th seed 6-3 6-2.