Ariya Jutanugarn wins third consecutive LPGA title at Volvik Championship

Ariya Jutanugarn won her third consecutive LPGA title on Sunday, firing a final-round 5-under par 67 to win the inaugural Volvik Championship by five strokes over American Christina Kim.

Jutanugarn became the first player to capture her first three LPGA crowns in consecutive fashion and moved within two of the tour record win streak of five events by Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and American Nancy Lopez.

She also became the first Thai player to win an LPGA title by taking the Yokohama Tire Classic in Alabama earlier this month and added the Kingsmill Championship last week.

"It feels easier," Ariya said. "I got a little bit excited before this crowd but I just decided I would do what is under my control."

Jutanugarn is the first LPGA player to win three events in a row since South Korean Park In-Bee in 2013.

She will skip next week's Shoprite LPGA Classic to focus on the year's second major tournament, the Women's PGA Championship at Sammamish, Washington, on June 9-12.

"To be honest, my goal is I really want to win my first major," she added.

Asked what she will do on her week off, Jutanugarn replied matter-of-factly -- "practice harder."

Jutanugarn finished 72 holes at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on 15-under 273, putting her at a combined 43-under par for her past 12 rounds.

Kim was second on 278 after a closing 71 with Canada's Brooke Henderson and American Jessica Korda, the 23-year-old daughter of former ATP standout Petr Korda, sharing third on 279 and Spain's Belen Mozo fifth on 280.

Jutanugarn birdied the par-5 sixth and finished with flourish in her third bogey-free round of the week, sealing her triumph with back-to-back birdies at the par-4 13th and par-5 14th plus the par-3 16th and par-4 17th.