Ingrid Lindblad won the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in her third start as an LPGA Tour member, avoiding a playoff when fellow rookie Akie Iwai bogeyed the final hole at El Caballero Country Club.
Playing a group ahead of Iwai, Lindblad shot a four-under 68 to finish at 21-under. The 25-year-old former LSU star from Sweden made the last of her six birdies on the par-five 11th and parred the final seven holes, adding to two front-nine bogeys.
Iwai followed a third-round 64 with a 69 to fall a stroke short.
Iwai had pulled even with Lindblad at 21 under with a birdie on the par-five 16th as, after her drive went left and bounced twice on the cart path, Iwai hit a low cut around a tree to the front edge of the green and rolled a 75-foot eagle putt to inches.
However, on the par-four 18th, Iwai drove to the right over a bunker into rough, then hit a nine-iron from 150 that bounced near the flag and went off the back edge.
From a good lie in choppy rough, she ran the downhill chip past the hole and missed the comebacker.
“You should never not expect it, right?” Lindblad said. “But obviously got it done in a couple starts. Just kind of crazy.
“Felt like I could have made a couple more birdies on the back nine but nothing really wanted to drop. I feel like I was just trying to like be where you can’t see if you’re five-under par or five-over par. Just staying in the moment and show no emotion. But sometimes it’s hard to show no emotion.
“I feel like I played pretty aggressive all week. I think it would just hurt me if we were trying to get too defensive. Felt like we stuck to the same game plan as we had the first three days, and turns out it worked out really well.”
The 22-year-old Japanese player’s twin sister, Chisato, tied for 11th at 15 under after a 68. The sisters played alongside each other Saturday.
Lauren Coughlin (70), Esther Henseleit (64), Miyu Yamashita (66) tied for third at 19 under. Nasa Hataoka had a 63 to get to 18 under.
Hannah Green, the winner each of the last two seasons at Wilshire Country Club, closed with a 67 to tie for ninth at 16 under. Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul also was 16 under after a 69.
Top-ranked Nelly Korda had a 72 to tie for 16th at 14 under in her final start before her title defense in the Chevron Championship. The major event starts Thursday outside Houston at The Woodlands.
What’s next?
The women’s major season kicks off this week with the Chevron Championship, with live coverage from Texas beginning on Thursday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
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