Lexi Thompson of the United States of America watches her drive on the 18th tee during the final round of the LPGA Manulife Classic at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont., on Sunday, June 11, 2017.
Ko returns to action this week at the Meijer LPGA Classic in MI after taking a three-week break to recharge ahead of a run of majors, in which she will need to find form to challenge Jutanugarn, who is also playing this week.
"It means the world to me", Jutanugarn said in a statement.
The W, her first since prevailing five times a year ago, astounded Jutanugarn.
Ariya Jutanugarn officially moved ahead of Lydia Ko to world No. 1 with Monday's release of the newest Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking.
Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn is the new women's world No 1 - and this time it's official.
The Thai found the center of the green from the position, while Chun, hitting from the fairway, landed her second shot farther away from the hole than Jutanugarn.
Ariya would not have had a chance to win on Sunday if Thompson had not suffered a meltdown, her jangled nerves betraying her when under pressure with the putter.
"I feel like if I can get out there and get hot early and post the round, you never know what happens", Sharp said.
Manulife has chose to end its sponsorship of the Cambridge tournament - one of two Canadian stops on the LPGA Tour's calendar. Also with this win, Jutanugarn becomes the youngest victor on the LPGA Tour this season, at 21 years, six months, and 18 days.
May's fate as Prime Minister hangs in the balance
Meanwhile, the Labour Party surged, winning 29 seats in areas where the party's lukewarm support for the Brexit played well. The Labour leader was just 2,227 votes away from being elected as the country's new Prime Minister.
Then with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, Chun ended up shooting two under-par on the last day, to tie the lead at 17-under with Jutanugarn and Thompson. She three-putted from 35 feet on the 18th and missed a four-footer that could have given her the victory. "All the wins I've ever had when I was a kid I was always coming from behind".
Knox, who has been struggling a bit recently, carded a three-under-par 67 in his final outing before joining Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay in flying the Saltire in this week's US Open.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff (69) was one shot back in fourth place.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was the top Canadian.
Thompson was the overnight leader but bogeyed her final two holes to drop into the playoff.
"Feel great. Feel like I breakthrough", said Jutanugarn, who had not had time to process her rise to world's best.
However, a three-putt on the par-three 17th set up a tense finale with Thompson one shot clear. She began the final round at 14 under, just three strokes behind Thompson.
She jokingly said she was planning to celebrate the victory by sleeping in the auto as her caddie drove her to Grand Rapids, Mich., the site of the next week's Meijer LPGA Classic.
"I think we're nearly there", Chun said after the playoff, as quoted on LPGA.com. "Just hit one bad shot on the last (hole) and didn't make any putts, so it's kind of not sitting well at this moment".
Ariya is not due to return to Thailand until December when the season is over.
Comments