Defending champion Minjee Lee has had to settle for a tie of 13th as American golfer Allisen Corpuz won the prestigious US Women's Open at Pebble Beach.
Corpuz closed with a three-under 69 to finish at nine under on Sunday, three shots clear of England's Charley Hull (66) and Jiyai Shin (68) of South Korea.
The 27-year-old West Australian Lee put up an admirable title defence without ever really threatening to claim a third career major.
The world No.6 gave the crowd a moment to savour on the 18th, holing a birdie putt from just inside 11 feet to card a final-round three-over 75 to finish at four over, in a tie for 13th with six others including fellow Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim.
It was Lee's best major result of the year following a joint-41st at the Chevron Championship and equal-20th at the PGA Championship.
Green roared home with a 69 while Kim shot a 71.
After opening with a horror 78, then barely making the halfway cut, Gabriela Ruffels (77) rounded out the Aussie contingent at eight over.
But the spoils - including a record winner's cheque of $3 million - went to 25-year-old Corpuz, who was the only player to break par all four days to become the first American in 20 years to make the US Women's Open her first LPGA title.
"Unreal ... This week has felt like a dream come true," Corpuz said.
"It's been really awesome to be at Pebble Beach this week. Every few holes I kind of looked out and thought, 'I'm here at Pebble. There's not many places better than this.'"
In the same week that Michelle Wie West said goodbye to professional golf, another Hawaiian announced herself with a resounding hello.
Corpuz pulled away with a big par putt and back-to-back birdies on the back nine to enjoy the most scenic walk in golf up the 18th fairway, the Pacific Ocean on her left and her place secured as the first US Women's Open champion at Pebble Beach.
She was so calm and cool on the grandest stage in women's golf, until reality hit as she walked toward the 18th green with a three-shot lead in hand. She wiped away tears with her Aloha-print towel when it was over.
"My coach told me this morning, 'No one is going to give it to you,' and I think I've just played a little conservatively in the past," Corpuz said.
"Just really went out there and told myself I had the game to do it (Sunday)."
Nasa Hataoka (76) lost her one-shot lead on the opening hole when Corpuz hit her approach to five feet for birdie, and the 24-year-old from Japan dropped too many shots down the home stretch. She finished equal-fourth with American Bailey Tardy (73) at four under.
With AP & Reuters.
