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CALGARY, Alberta — Lauren Coughlin won the CPKC Women’s Open on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, edging out Hairan Ryu by two strokes on the 17th hole.
After tying for the lead after Rio missed three putts on the 16th hole, Coughlin made an 8-foot putt and made one on the 195-yard 17th hole. Rio then missed a 3-foot putt to fall two shots behind.
“It was like a two-hit, I couldn’t hit more than six and I needed to get some shots off or it would have gone over the limit, especially considering how tired I was at the time,” Coughlin said.
“But I hit it perfectly, and I thought it was going to stay left there, but it went right at the last second. It was a great shot.”
She finished the tournament at 275 under par, finishing at 71 under par for a two-shot win over Mao Saijo in mostly calm conditions at Earl Grey Golf Club, with smoke from wildfires continuing to leave a haze over the course.
Saigo scored 69 the day after breaking the tournament record with a 61 on a course full of trees, rough and small greens.
“Being in competition this week was a great experience for me,” said Saigo, the 22-year-old Japanese golfer, who is a rookie on the LPGA Tour after winning six times on the Japan LPGA Tour.
Rio also shot 75 on the 18th hole to tie for third with Jenny Shen (67) at 10-under par.
“I can only remember my mistakes on the last two holes, but there’s always next time,” Rio said.
Jennifer Kupcho was fifth at 8-under par after a 71.
Coughlin began the day leading the standings after each of the first two rounds, one stroke behind Rio. Coughlin birdied the par-3 fifth hole, bogeyed the par-4 sixth and 10th holes, and bogeyed the par-5 15th hole.
The 31-year-old former University of Virginia player was coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago at the Evian Grand Prix in France.
“I think my story in general shows that I always try and I always try to do things. I’m willing to keep going. I don’t give up. I think I showed that perfectly today,” Coughlin said.
Coughlin is set to play for the United States in the Solheim Championship in her hometown in September at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. She won in her 103rd appearance on the LPGA Tour.
“I don’t really know how to describe it,” Coughlin said. “People have believed in me for a really long time, and I wouldn’t be here without their support and love.”
Rio finished third for the second straight year. The 23-year-old South Korean finished second last week at the Dana Open in Ohio. She also won the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship last year to claim her first tour title.
“I’ll do my best then,” Rio said.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, finished the tournament with a 68 to tie for eighth place at 6-under par. On Friday, she shot a 73 over the final four holes to fall seven strokes behind her rivals heading into the weekend.
“I feel like I’m in the right place,” Henderson said. “It’s been a great couple of days like yesterday and today, with a minus seven, so if I can make up for the first two days a little bit, I’m probably in the right place.”
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