Amy Yang ties LPGA record with nine consecutive birdies to finish in Korea
Amy Yang did something on Sunday that no one had ever done in the over 60-year history of the LPGA: She closed the LPGA KEG Hana Bank Championship with nine consecutive birdies.
The back-nine 27 was part of an 11-birdie effort at Sky 72 Golf Club in South Korea, leaving Yang with a final-round 10-under 62. She finished in a tie for fourth place, two shots behind eventual winner Lexi Thompson.
Yang, who has a propensity to catch fire, said she drew on past hot streaks to keep this one going to the finish line.
“I had so many experiences like this, so I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Yang said.
However, Yang may well have been freed up to play so well because she had been frustrated during the first 54 holes of the tournament. She was only 3 under for the week coming into Sunday, so something had to change.
“The last three days, I’ve been just struggling a little bit out there swing-wise,” said Yang. “[I said to myself,] You know what, I’m not playing for winning or anything. Just let’s go have fun.”
In addition to becoming the first LPGA player to close a tournament with nine consecutive birdies, Yang turned in the lowest nine-hole score in relation to par in LPGA history and tied the lowest nine-hole score by strokes. Hall of Fame member Beth Daniel is the only other player to ever score nine consecutive circles on the card, doing so at the 1999 Philips Invitational.
That’s good company.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
