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Kris Tamulis seals maiden win at Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic

Kris Tamulis poses with the winner's trophy after winning the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic
Image: Kris Tamulis poses with the trophy after winning the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic

Kris Tamulis claimed the first LPGA Tour title of her career by winning the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on Sunday.

Tamulis played 29 holes in the twice-delayed tournament, the 186th of her LPGA Tour career. 

She finished a third-round 67 and closed with a 65 to beat Yani Tseng and Austin Ernst by a stroke.

The 34-year-old former Florida State player had a 17-under 271 total on The Senator Course and didn't show the strain of being in contention with so little margin for error.

"It was amazing," Tamulis said. "I was definitely not expecting this today."

Tseng had rounds of 71 and 67, and Ernst shot 68 and 69 with the weather clearing up after delays totaling nearly seven hours during the previous two days. Both parred the final hole with a chance to force a play off.

Tamulis birdied four of the first six holes in the final round before finally making her only bogey of the last three rounds. She hadn't finished better than fourth on the tour.

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She made a short birdie putt on the 17th hole, cheerfully telling two fans "28 of 29 completed today." Then, a long birdie putt, hit seemingly perfectly on line, stopped inches shy of the final hole.

Still smiling, she told her caddie the ball needed just "a little more oomph," then chatted with the teenager carrying the score placard.

She had about 45 minutes to sweat it out. Tseng and Ernst both had makeable birdie putts on 18, on opposite sides of the pin. Ernst's attempt went to the left. Tseng came closer, falling to her knees when her putt lipped out.

"When they both missed I was just shocked," said Tamulis.

Kris Tamulis reacts after a putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic at the Robert Trent
Image: Tamulis celebrates her first victory on the LPGA Tour

Tamulis had been fourth last year in Prattville and earlier this year at the Meijer LPGA Classic. She didn't make the cut at last week's Canadian Pacific Women's Open after posting two 73 rounds. Her rounds steadily improved from 71 to 68 to 67 and finally 65.

"The last time I actually saw where it was at was by accident on No. 9," she said. "Then I felt really good and I was just out there trying to have a good time. My goal was to come in here have a decent week, play well and secure my spots in Asia."

She also wanted to ensure she made the field in her hometown of Naples, Florida, for the season finale, the CME Group Tour Championship.

Tseng is a 26-year-old Taiwanese player who ranked No. 1 for 109 weeks early in her career. She came close to snapping an 85-event winless streak dating to the 2012 Kia Classic, making a long birdie putt on No. 16.

Ernst was seeking her second tour win. Sydnee Michaels finished with a 67, finishing in a fourth-place tie with 2011 winner Lexi Thompson. Thompson closed with a 69 and was in the 60s all four rounds.

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