It was a disappointing final round for Leona Maguire at the Women’s British Open as she carded a final round 75.
Maguire’s challenge for a top 20 finish never got going on a tough Sunday at Kingsbarns as bogeys on the fifth and ninth along with a double bogey on 17th saw her finish in a share of 49th place. The Duke University senior failed to retain her silver salvar for leading amateur as she lost out to Sophie Lamb who carded a 69 to finish on -6, three shots ahead of Maguire.
At the top of the leaderboard Korea’s IK Kim held off a brilliant challenge from England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff to claim her maiden Major title.
Kim saw her six-shot overnight lead cut in half thanks to a superb run of scoring from Shadoff, who followed a birdie on the second with five in a row from the sixth and another on the 13th.
The 29-year-old then birdied the 17th to close the gap to two and parred the last to complete a 64, equalling the course record set on day one by Michelle Wie and matched by Inbee Park in round three.
However, Kim, who famously missed a one-foot putt to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship – now called the ANA Inspiration – in 2012, was able to par the final five holes for a closing 71 and winning total of 18 under par.
Speaking about recovering from her heartbreaking loss in 2012, Kim said: “It’s been a long process but I had a lot of helping hands.
“A lot of my team helped me to enjoy golf and love what I do. That’s what I have learned. I have to give the same effort to every shot and that’s what I learned from that mistake.
“I think I already experienced the worst. I don’t have as much fear. Having fun out there is more important to me and that’s all I was really focusing on. I wanted to remember every hole that I played and I really gave my best.”
“Nothing really changes I don’t think. Winning is great but I felt like I deserve happiness anyway. But deep inside I felt ‘Oh my God, it happened’.”
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