Charley Hull makes 8 final-round birdies in Texas, barely edges Xiyu Lin for second LPGA victory

One streak was going to finish, whereas the opposite achingly would stay.

Finally, Charley Hull shot a final-round seven-under 64 Sunday on the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, clipping Xiyu Lin (65) by one shot. It marked Hull’s second LPGA victory and first for the reason that 2016 CME Group Tour Championship. For Lin, she continues to search for her first LPGA victory after enjoying in practically 200 tour occasions in her profession.

“I’ve come shut a couple of instances since,” Hull mentioned. “Now my sport is there, it was simply my confidence. I’m now assured.”

Hull, from England, shot 67-64-71-64 for her 18-under-par 266 complete. Lin, from China, shot 65-68-69-65 for finish at 267. Lydia Ko was third, two photographs behind Hull.

Hull and Lin, each 26, began the day tied at Previous American Golf Membership in The Colony, Texas. Hull rattled off 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch on the entrance 9 to leap out to a lead. She then made consecutive birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to take a three-shot lead with solely 4 holes remaining.

“I get bored if I don’t go for pins, and after I get bored I don’t play pretty much as good,” Hull mentioned. “I discover it attention-grabbing and excited, and that’s after I often play my finest golf.”

She nonetheless wanted to seek out her finest down the stretch as a result of Lin delivered a late cost, making a protracted birdie putt on the par-3 sixteenth gap, then following it up by making a 35-footer for eagle on the par-5 seventeenth gap. At that second, the 2 had been tied, however Hull quickly made her birdie on 17 from 5 ft to take the one-shot lead into the house gap.

Each gamers hit method photographs on the par-4 18th to the same distance however Hull went first, placing from a pair inches off the inexperienced. She missed however tapped in for a straightforward par. Lin stood over a 15-footer for birdie to tie Hull and pressure a playoff, however she simply missed it left.

Fellow countrywoman Georgia Corridor stormed Hull with champagne, who promptly took an enormous swig then dumped a bit over her personal head.

“I can’t keep in mind what I used to be pondering,” she mentioned. “It was all a little bit of a blur.”

Lin, who turned skilled 11 years in the past as a 16-year-old, made an premature bogey on the eleventh gap Sunday however performed flawlessly the remainder of the way in which. She opened with a birdie to take the lead, adopted it with one on the sixth, then shot four-under 32 on the ultimate 9 holes with the bogey and the eagle. It’s one other disappointing consequence, however this time it appeared simpler to swallow than among the different near-misses prior to now.

“Firstly of the week you’re telling me I’m going to shoot 17 beneath right here and end second I’ll take this any time,” Lin mentioned. “I at all times discovered this course may be very difficult for myself.

“My coach and I had a joke, making an attempt to see how excessive of a world rating I can get and not using a win. I imply, it’s not enjoyable, however it’s enjoyable.”

Hull burst onto the scene in 2013 when, as a 17-year-old, she was picked by Captain Liselotte Neumann to play for Europe within the Solheim Cup in Colorado. She confirmed up that week with no expectations, collected a 2-1 file and defeated her idol Paula Creamer, 5 and 4, in Sunday singles to assist her staff route the Individuals that week.

Since then Hull has performed in 4 extra Solheim Cups, recorded an 11-5-3 total file and is a machine in staff codecs however has not but had as a lot particular person success as she wished. She’s received 3 times on the Women European Tour, now has two LPGA victories and has seven top-10 finishes in majors.

When Hull received her maiden LPGA occasion six years in the past, she was thrilled, however barely upset as a result of it was the final occasion of the season. She felt she was in such nice type that she wished she had extra occasions to play, one thing she’s blissful that she does have this time.

“I’ve had some good outcomes this yr,” Hull mentioned. “Had a really comparable season to my 2016 season, so I’m really blissful I’ve bought a pair occasions left as properly, as a result of I felt like within the 2016 season if I had a couple of extra I may have pushed on.”