Haru Nomura produces superb final round to win Australian Open
Sunday 21 February 2016 16:02, UK
Haru Nomura upstaged a host of star names as she won the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open at The Grange in Adelaide after shooting a brilliant seven-under 65 on the final day.
The 23-year-old began in a three-way tie for the lead and surged to a three-shot victory over World No 1 Lydia Ko, rolling in eight birdies and making only one bogey when the title was already assured.
Having arrived on the 17th with a three-shot advantage after picking up shots on 15 and 16, Nomura holed a 15-metre putt for birdie, allowing herself the luxury of making a final-hole bogey when she failed to get up and down from a bunker.
It was a first LPGA Tour success for world No 67 Nomura after five seasons and she said: "There was no pressure, golf is the fight of my own. It's not against someone else, even though someone else plays well. If I hit my goals, then I win."
Nomura had just 26 putts and she added: "The putter, wow, unbelievable."
She finished on 16 under while Ko was all alone in second on 13 under after shooting a fine round of 67.
"I played really well but Haru just played even better," Ko said. "By the roars I could hear, it seems like she was holing a lot of putts. When another player does that, it's really out of my hands."
Home favourite and five-time champion Karrie Webb finished third at nine under, having joined the leaders early in the round with three birdies, only to falter with a round of 71.
Webb was "frustrated'' after a tough day on the greens, yet encouraged by her ball-striking. "What I can take from this week is it's the best I've swung it for a long time and I know that the putts are going to drop so I just have to be patient,'' said the Australian.
American Danielle Kang and South Korean Jenny Shin had shared the overnight lead with Nomura but fell away on the final day. Kang's closing 73 dropping her into a tie for fourth on eight under, while Shin was joint ninth, a stroke further back, after a 74.
English youngster Charley Hull enjoyed a good final day, going round in 68 to join Kang in the five-strong group who tied for fourth place, while Georgia Hall was a shot further back after climbing the leaderboard with a final round of 67.
Nomura is the first Japanese winner of the tournament since 1974, when Chako Higuchi prevailed at the Victoria course.
