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Six years after joining the LPGA Tour and being named Rolex
Rookie of the Year , Moriya captured her first win at the HUGEL-JTBC LA Open at Wilshire
Country Club .
Jutanugarn Wins in 156 th Start
t ’ s �nally Moriya Jutanugarn ’ s time . For the last two years , Moriya watched her younger sister , Ariya , make history on Tour as the �rst player from Thailand to win a major championship and add six more wins to her resume . It was Moriya who etched the siblings ’ name in the history books . With her victory , the Jutanugarns join Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam as the only other sisters to win on the LPGA Tour . This time it was Ariya , with an arm around their mother , and tears in her eyes , who nervously watched as her sister won for the �rst time on the LPGA Tour . When the last putt dropped , the sisters shared
Sisters Love - Ariya Jutanugarn & Moriya Jutanugarn a long hug , both with tears streaming , sharing the relief of years having waited for this moment .
Six years after joining the LPGA Tour and being named Rolex Rookie of the Year , Moriya captured her �rst win at the HUGEL- JTBC LA Open at Wilshire Country Club . Sunday , the 23-year-old posted a �nal round of three-under-68 to win at 12-under-par , two strokes ahead of rookie Jin Young Ko and
Inbee Park .
“ It feels great ,” Moriya told Golf Channel after her round . “ I keep doing what I ’ m doing and it �nally has worked out pretty good . It was a pretty solid week and I ’ m pretty happy with it .”
Moriya was inspired by the success her sister found on Tour . As Ariya kept winning , Moriya kept improving . Over the last three years , Moriya posted
Jutanugarn
16 of her 21 career top 10s on the LPGA Tour , including three runner-up �nishes . She learned from each close call and successfully employed the teachings of Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott of Vision54 , who work with both Jutanugarn sisters on their mental game . Patience was a key Moriya kept pointing to throughout the week . It ultimately led to her success as she minimized mistakes while her challengers stumbled .
“ I had a lot of patience out there , and �nally my week comes true .”
52 G o l f P l u s MAY 2018