Jang triumphs in Adelaide

Jang triumphs in Adelaide

Ariya tied third, Salas and Pornanong seventh

Adelaide: World No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn's best shot at winning her first title of the year wasn't enough to catch red-hot Jang Ha-Na, who stormed to a three-shot victory in the Women's Australian Open with a blistering eagle-birdie finish yesterday.

Ariya Jutanugarn

Ariya closed with a two-under 71 to finish joint third on 286, four shots off the pace, alongside defending champion Haru Nomura of Japan and Australian duo Sarah Jane Smith and Minjee Lee at Royal Adelaide.

The Thai ace moved to the top of the leaderboard at one stage alongside overnight leader Lizette Salas and Su Oh but was later upstaged by world No.6 Jang who claimed her fourth LPGA career win and first of the 2017 season with a sensational final round.

Jang, 24, conjured a remarkable finish with an eagle from long range at the 17th followed by a brilliant birdie at the 18th to reach 10-under 282.

Her round of four-under 69 equalled the lowest round of the day but it was done in the toughest of the conditions with gusty winds.

Jang, who defeated Denmark's Nanna Madsen on seven-under 285, had a sizzling back nine of five-under 31 with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th holes as well as the eagle at 17.

"It's a really good, strong finish," Jang said. "I had a really good score after hole No.12 and I hit a really good birdies at 13 and 14 and eagled the 17th."

In her second tournament of the year Ariya began with three birdies in the first four holes and added another at the turn. She picked up one more birdie at 11th but conceded three bogeys at the second, sixth and 15th.

American Salas, who led by three shots at the 11th hole yesterday, fell away badly to record a five-over 78 and finish tied for seventh.

Another Thai hopeful Pornanong Phatlum, who trailed by two shots after the third round, also had a disappointing final round, concluding with a three-over 76 to slip to tied seventh alongside Salas and five other players.

Ariya's sister Moriya finished joint 16th after a two-under 71 for 289.

New Zealand's world No.1 Lydia Ko finished tied for 46th place on two-over after a closing round of two-over 75.

Ko completed just one round under par at Royal Adelaide in her first outing since changing coach, club-makers and caddie.

"I hit my driver really well and that was the biggest thing that I was struggling with towards the end of my year last year," she said. "It was great to be confident and be able to hit those fairways, especially with the wind this week.

"A lot of positive signs. Hopefully by next week it will be polished."

Ko and Ariya will both compete at the Honda LPGA Thailand in Pattaya this week. bangkok post/afp

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