Lilia Vu secured her first major title of her career defeating compatriot Angel Yin in a dramatic playoff at the Chevron Championship.
The 25-year-old American began the final day four shots behind the overnight leaders Yin and Allisen Corpuz but rallied with five birdies, climbing up the leaderboard and putting pressure on Yin and Corpuz, carding a 4-under-par 68.
Yin had victory in her sights on the final day but back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 prevented her from getting across the line. A birdie on the last hole forced the playoff with Vu with both finishing on 10-under.
But it was Vu who conquered in the playoff as Yin hit her second shot into the water in front of the green while Vu was over the green in two shots and sunk the birdie putt to cement victory.
This is Vu’s second triumph of the year following her win at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February.
“Everything happens for a reason, all the bad things,” said Vu, 25, who had considered quitting the sport a few years ago.
“The past two days, I was very angry. I didn’t feel like myself. I just felt like I was getting angry over every single little thing, and that’s usually not how I roll.”
Vu also stated how she had her grandfather in her thoughts to help motivate her on the course.
“Today, I was getting really upset on the course, and I just had to remind me, like grandpa is with you, and he’d be really disappointed if you were getting upset like this and that you didn’t get your act together.”
This year’s tournament marked the first time that it was not held Million Hills Country Club in California. The tradition of the winner jumping into the water however was kept by Vu as she lept into the lake alongside the 18th green.
World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot a 71 to finish third on 9-under while Corpuz, who began the final day joint-top faded away to finish tied fourth on eight-under alongside Atthaya Thitikul, A Lim Kim, Albane Valenzuela and Amy Yang.
The next major of the year will be the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship taking place at the Baltusrol Lower Course in New Jersey between June 22-25.