American Lauren Coughlin wins Scottish Open for second LPGA Tour victory

AYRSHIRE – Lauren Coughlin recorded a three-under 69 to win the Women’s Scottish Open by four strokes on Aug 18 in Ayrshire.

With a 15-under 273 total, the American got her second career LPGA Tour win in 21 days, following her maiden victory in July at the Canadian Women’s Open.

The 54-hole leader, Coughlin bogeyed two of the first four holes to open the door for Megan Khang, who was second and one shot back at the start. Khang pulled even but could not take advantage, spreading three bogeys and a birdie throughout her round to finish at 74 and fall to a tie for third at nine under with Japan’s Ayaka Furue, who shot a 68.

Germany’s Esther Henseleit, the Paris Olympics silver medallist, was a runner-up again. After playing at par on the front nine, she had three birdies and a bogey on the back nine for a 70 to narrow the gap with Coughlin but could not catch her.

After her slow start to her round, Coughlin added five birdies – including at Nos. 14, 15 and 18 – to cruise to the win. She single-putted the final seven holes, effectively ending the dreams of her competitors.

“I was, of course, not happy with it,” she said of her start. “But I mean, I knew it was playing super tough and that bogeys were unavoidable. I had done a pretty awesome job the previous two rounds not making any.

“So I knew that it was fine to make a couple but I could still go make some birdies coming in.”

The 31-year-old, raised in Virginia, said her recent success on the LPGA Tour is “incredible”.

“I think if you would have told me (of the wins) – I mean let alone at the beginning of this year but probably the beginning of last year – I probably wouldn’t believe you at all that this is what I’ve just done,” she said.

“But it’s incredible and I think it just shows how hard I’ve worked to get here and it’s... amazing.”

Coughlin, who won US$300,000 (S$395,000), was proud of how she managed play in the windy conditions, saying: “I played super solid all four days and just kind of tried to let the wind do what it did and not try to fight it too much.”

Singapore’s Shannon Tan, 20, carded a six-over 78 to end 67th among 69 golfers on 14-over 302. She earned US$4,833.

England’s Charley Hull was alone in fifth on 280 after a round of 73, and Australian Gabriela Ruffels (68) and South Korean Ko Jin-young (71) tied for sixth, eight shots back. REUTERS