It was a long day in humid
conditions, but Ariya Jutanugarn
outlasted Dottie
Ardina to become the third player
from Thailand
to win a USGA championship.
"I'm so happy, I'm so
proud," said Jutanugarn on the 17th green, where she closed out the match,
2 and 1.
In a nip-and-tuck duel, no lead
got larger than 2-up. Jutanugarn carried the 2-up margin on the 31st and 32nd
holes.
Statistically, both players were
close. Jutanugarn hit 22 of 27 fairways and 26 of 35 greens in regulation. By
comparison, Ardina missed just one fairway and three greens. Jutanugarn shot
one under par with all of the match-play concessions; Ardina shot three over.
"The key to the match was
birdies and pars. I kept making three-putts all day," said Ardina, who is
from the Philipines.
Out of the chute, Jutanugarn
birdied the first hole when she sank a
6-foot putt. That put her 1 up. Ardina evened things on the 356-yard par-4
sixth hole when Jutanugarn conceded the hole. Jutanugarn couldn’t get up and
down from an awkward lie. She sent her ball across the green while Ardina was
laying three shots.
The fellow competitors then ran
off 11 consecutive holes with halves. It wasn’t until the par-4 17th
hole that Ardina grabbed her first and only lead, which lasted two holes.
Ardina capitalized on Jutanugarn’s inability to get up and down from the left
greenside rough.
“It’s tough and tight,” said
Ardina at the one-hour break. “I’m still hanging in there.”
Ardina’s lead vanished on the 19th
hole. Jutanugarn again came out and birdied the hole, this time converting a
breaking 5-footer.
Jutanugarn took the lead on the
par-5 22nd hole. Ardina had missed the green on the left side and
attempted two chips from the deep rough. The ball never made it on the green,
causing Ardina to concede the hole.
On the 23rd hole, a
158-yard par 3, Ardina nailed a 14-foot putt that brought a rare fist pump.
Things remained all square for two holes until Jutanugarn won the 25th
hole with a par. Ardina three-putted from 30 feet. Jutanugarn held
onto the lead for four holes.
On the 29th hole, which
was the par-4 11th, Ardina converted a 7-foot birdie putt that again
got the match to all square. This time it would be short-lived because Jutanugarn
bounced back on the next hole, winning it with a par. Ardina three-putted from 33 feet.
Jutanugarn never looked back. She
forged a 2-up advantage on the 31st hole when she hit her approach
shot stiff to 2 ½ feet. She easily made the putt.
A birdie by Ardina on the 33rd
hole, which was No. 15, cut the deficit in half.
In a match-play quirk on the 35th hole, Jutanugarn
hit out of turn. Coming off the 16th green, the hole was halved and Ardina
still had the honor from winning No. 33. Jutanugarn played first on No. 17,
landing in the fairway, however she played out of order. According to a USGA
official, Rule 10-1c provides that the opponent can let the stroke played out
of order stand or ask the opponent to cancel and replay. Ardina then asked Jutanugarn
to cancel and replay the stroke. But Jutanugarn again drove the ball in the
fairway.
Jutanugarn pitched from the left greenside rough to 4 feet left of hole.
Ardina's ball ran 3 feet
by the hole, and her comebacker burned the outer edge. It was a crucial miss
because it gave Jutanugarn a putt for the win.
“My caddie just told me to make it,” said Jutanugarn, whose
sister Moriya was on the bag.
Hole 35 - 417 yards, par 4
In a match-play quirk, Jutanugarn hit out of turn. Ardina had the option of making Juta replay her shot, which she did. But it didn't matter. Juta split the fairway. Ardina's approach landed on the green. Her ball was 66 feet away. Jutanugarn pitched from the left greenside rough to 4 feet left of hole. Ardina's ball ran 3 feet by the hole, and her comebacker burned the outer edge. It was a crucial miss because it gave Jutanugarn a putt for the win. Jutanugarn nailed the putt and captured the 2011 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.
Ariya Jutanugarn wins, 2 and 1
Hole 34 - 312 yards, par 4
Both players reached the fairway on this blind tee shot and hit the green from there. Jutanugarn had a 24-foot putt to the right of the hole, with Ardina 30 feet below. Her birdie putt pulled and stopped 1 1/2 feet from the hole. Jutanugarn came up short as well, and both players picked up their balls for pars.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 33 - 405 yards, par 4
Again, both players were on the fairway off the tee. Ardina hit her approach shot stiff to 2 feet. Jutanugarn's ball took a strange hop once it reached the green, bounding to the left and under a tree in the greenside rough. She conceded the hole from there.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 32 - 131 yards, par 3
Jutanugarn's tee shot landed 14 feet away from the hole, 2 feet inside Ardina's. Ardina picked up her ball after missing to the left by inches. Jutanugarn had a similar outcome and also picked up her ball.
Jutanugarn, 2 up
Hole 31 - 353 yards, par 4
After both landed in the fairway, Ardina hit her approach to 10 feet right of the hole. Not to be outdone, Jutanugarn went inside Ardina's ball to 2 feet. Ardina's first putt lipped out. and Jutanugarn's ball dropped to take a 2-up lead, the largest lead thus far in the match.
Jutanugarn, 2 up
Hole 30 - 196 yards, par 3
Both Ardina and Jutanugarn reached the green from the tee. Jutanugarn's 36-foot birdie pull just missed catching the back of the hole and rolled 4 feet past. Ardina missed both her birdie and par attempts, and Jutanugarn retook the lead when her comebacker fell in the hole.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 29 - 331 yards, par 4
Jutanugarn's tee shot went into the fairway bunker, but she found the green in two, as did Ardina. Ardina nailed a 7-foot birdie putt to even the match.
All square
Hole 28 - 451 yards, par 5
Jutanugarn pulled her approach shot, leaving her with an awkward lie in the greenside rough. Ardina stopped short of the green and used a flop shot to get on. Jutangarn made a nice stroke and punched the ball to 6 feet above the hole. Ardina pushed her 10-foot birdie putt and it stopped just inches from the hole. Jutanugarn also missed her birdie putt, and pars were conceded.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 27 - 371 yards, par 4
Both players again hit the fairway off the tee and made it onto the green in two. Jutanugarn faced a 16-foot birdie attempt, and Ardina's was from 24 feet. Her birdie putt stopped within an inch, causing her to stand with her hands on her hips in disbelief. Jutanugarn then missed another opportunity to extend her lead and missed her birdie attempt.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 26 - 391 yards, par 4
Both players are short of the green after hitting the fairway. It was only Ardina's second missed green of the day. Jutanugarn's 80-foot putt pulled 5 feet to the right of the hole, while Ardina's from 70 feet pulled 6 feet right. Ardina missed her birdie attempt, and Jutanugarn missed a prime opportunity to extend her lead by pushing her putt and missing her birdie attempt.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 25 - 561 yards, par 5
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, as both players again found the fairway, with Jutanugarn slightly ahead. She put her approach to 12 feet from the flagstick, hole high. Ardina was 30 feet above the hole, and left her par putt 3 feet short. Jutanugarn's birdie putt just grazed the edge of the hole and her par also missed, giving the hole to Jutanugarn.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 24 - 356 yards, par 4
Both players found the fairway, 120 yards short. Jutanugarn put her approach to 12 feet. Ardina had an uphill 36 footer that didn't have enough legs and stopped inches from the hole. Jutanugarn's birdie putt also stopped just short and the players halved the hole at par.
All square
Hole 23 - 158 yards, par 4
Jutanugarn hit a gorgeous tee shot that stopped stiff at 8 feet. Ardina had an equally nice shot, stopping 14 feet above the hole. Ardina sunk her birdie putt and followed with a fist pump. Jutanugarn pulled her short putt to take the match back to all square.
All square
Hole 22 - 512 yards, par 5
Ardina and Jutanugarn continued their streak of fairways off the tee, with Jutanugarn 60 yards ahead of Ardina. Both players missed the green to the left, both with difficult chips from the short side. Ardina's chip fell short of the green, and when her second chip also fell short, she conceded.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 21 - 169 yards, par 3
Both players reached the green on their tee shots. Jutanugarn hit the flagstick and the ball bounded away to 18 feet. Ardina had 39 feet to the hole. Both players sent their birdie attempts just short and another hole was halved with pars.
All square
Hole 20 - 419 yards, par 4
Ardina opened into the fairway, but Jutanugarn went into the left rough after blocking her tee shot. Ardina came up well short of the green, about 70 yards away. Jutanugarn made a nice shot out of the rough and reached 57 feet from the hole. Ardina's third shot came to 4 feet. Jutanugarn's nice putt was conceded for par from inches, and Ardina converted her 4 footer to halve the hole at par.
All square
Hole 19 - 394 yards, par 4
The afternoon portion of this scheduled 36-hole final has commenced. As with the morning round, both Jutanugarn and Ardina were able to find the fairway off the tee. Ardina had a 24-footer for birdie. She knocked it close and it was conceded. Jutanugarn tuck her approach to 5 feet and converted her birdie putt to immediately take away Ardina's lead.
All square
Hole 18 - 476 yards, par 5
After two shots each down the fairway, Ardina was faced with 97 yards to the hole and Jutanugarn 107 yards. Jutanugarn's ball landed 33 feet away from the hole. Ardina hit her approach shot stiff to 10 feet below the hole. Jutanugarn's first putt stopped 6 feet short of the hole. Ardina pulled her first putt inches away and picked it up for par. Jutanugarn converted her par to halve the hole and maintain Ardina's 1-up lead. The players will now go into their lunch break. Play will resume at 12:45 p.m.
Ardina, 1 up, at the lunch break
Hole 17 - 417 yards, par 4
With both players in the fairway, Jutanugarn pulled her approach into the left greenside rough. Ardina landed on the green, leaving her 48 feet for birdie. Jutanugarn chipped onto the green, and her ball released late to roll 12 feet past the hole. This opened the door for Ardina, who left her birdie attempt inches short. Jutanugarn conceded Ardina's par, and prompted missed her own par attempt, giving Ardina her first lead of the match.
Ardina, 1 up
Hole 16 - 312 yards, par 4
This was a blind tee shot for the players. Ardina opted for a driver off the tee, while Jutanugarn went a 3 wood. Both were on the fairway - Ardina 109 yards to the hole, Jutanugarn 108. Both players found the green in two. Jutanugarn was left with a 27-foot birdie putt, and her par attempt from inches was conceded. Ardina's 21-foot birdie attempt came up just short for another halved hole.
All square
Hole 15 - 405 yards, par 4
Ardina and Jutanugarn just seem to be matching each other stroke for stroke. Again, both players made the fairway off the tee, and both ended with 33 feet to the hole. Jutanugarn made her uphill putt first, and it stopped less than 1 foot from the hole. Ardina conceded that par, then her birdie attempt stopped 2 feet short. She converted the par, and the match continutes on to 16, still all square.
All square
Hole 14 - 131 yards, par 3
On this par-3 hole, Ardina hit her tee shot to within 24 feet of the hole. Jutanugarn reached 14 feet from the hole. Ardina had another knee-bending putt, just pulling the ball, which stopped mere inches from the hole. Jutanugarn yanked her putt, sending it 2 feet past. Both players converted par putts for another halved hole.
All square
Hole 13 - 353 yards, par 4
Both players split the fairway, and as usual, Jutanugarn was about 40 yards ahead of Ardina. Ardina's approach shot landed on the back collar, 27 feet from the hole. She knocked her first putt to 1 1/2 feet past the flagstick. Jutanugarn ended up with 20 feet to the hole. She pushed her putt 1 foot past, and another hole was halved with pars.
All square
Hole 12 - 196 yards, par 3
Ardina stuck her tee shot to 7 feet. Jutanugarn's tee shot landed 24 feet below the hole, and after she missed her birdie attempt, par was conceded. Ardina had a downhill approach to the hole, and nearly collapsed to her knees when the birdie putt narrowly missed to the left.
All square
Hole 11 - 331 yards, par 4
The tee is playing up for this championship final. Ardina's tee shot was in the fairway, and Jutanugarn driving into the right rough near the green. Ardina found the green in two, 21 feet away from the hole. Jutanugarn chipped onto the green and had a 30-foot downhill putt. Her putt lagged and stopped 4 feet short. Ardina left her putt one foot short. Jutanugarn conceded Ardina's par putt, and then converted her own attempt.
All square
Hole 10 - 451 yards, par 5
Again, both players found the fairway, with Jutanugarn again finding 40 additional yards on her opponent. Ardina's second shot landed in the right rough, 70 yards short of the green. Jutanugarn's second traveled way left, just short of the green. Ardina tried to pitch the ball onto the green, but her ball caught on some leaves and stopped 16 feet short. It was her first missed green in regulation. Ardina then chipped to 1 1/2 feet. Jutanugarn also chipped onto the green, and her 10-foot putt lipped out. Both players took pars, and the match remains all square.
All square
Hole 9 - 371 yards, par 4
As usual, both players found the fairway, with Jutanugarn slightly ahead of Ardina. Ardina's approach reached the green, leaving her an 18-foot birdie putt. Jutanugarn's approach dropped just short of the green, but she opted to putt from the front edge. Her 27-foot birdie putt stopped 2 feet short of the hole. Ardina's birdie attempt rolled inches past. Both pars were conceded.
All square
Hole 8 - 391 yards, par 4
Ardina and Jutanugarn continue to play steady golf, with both players on the green in two. Ardina had a 20-foot birdie opportunity to the left of the flagstick. Jutanugarn was 84 feet below the hole, and her birdie putt stopped 3 feet short. Ardina just missed her birdie attempt, and her par was conceded. Jutanugarn hit her 3-footer to keep the match all square.
All square
Hole 7 - 561 yards, par 5
Both players were on the fairway in two, with Jutanugarn's tee shot ending up in the second cut of rough to the right. Ardina faced 165 yards to the hole, Jutanugarn 185 yards. With the flagstick tucked to the front-right, Jutanugarn hit the green with her approach shot. Ardina also found the green, and is yet to miss a green. Both players were 45 feet from the hole. Jutanugarn putted first, and her ball broke too early and stopped 3 feet short. Ardina knocked her birdie putt closer, leaving 2 feet. Both converted their par attempts.
All square
Hole 6 - 356 yards, par 4
Jutanugarn found the fairway off the tee, but Ardina's tee shot ended up in the right rough. However, she was able to find the green in two, with 42 feet to the hole. Jutanugarn missed the green with her second shot and it went down an embankment. She was left with an awkward, short-sided lie. Ardina's putt broke the wrong way, leaving her with a 4 footer for par. Jutanugarn tried a flop shot to the green, but it wasn't enough and rolled back down the hill. With no choice but to go for the hole, her par shot went across the green. Jutanugarn conceded the hole, bringing the match back to even.
All square
Hole 5 - 158 yards, par 3
Ardina and Jutanugarn both made the green in one on this par-3 hole. Jutanugarn faced a 14-footer for birdie, and Ardina's was 27 feet. Ardina's birdie attempt almost dropped into the back of the hole, but rolled a few inches past for a conceded par. Jutanugarn, to the right of the flagstick, pushed her putt 3 1/2 feet past, but nailed the comebacker to maintain her lead.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 4 - 512 yards, par 3
Both players hit the fairway off the tee, with Jutanguarn 40 yards ahead, and both reached the green in three. Jutanugarn faced a 20-foot putt for birdie, and Ardina 63 feet. Ardina's putt had too much speed and rolled 4 feet past the hole. Jutanugarn pushed her putt to the right, and her par was conceded. Ardina converted the comebacker for another halved hole.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 3 - 169 yards, par 3
Ardina was on the green with her first shot. Jutanugarn was just short off the tee, and opted to putt on to the green. Her birdie putt rolled 3 feet past the hole. Ardina left her 45-foot birdie attempt 2 feet short. Both players converted their par putts to halve the hole.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 2 - 419 yards, par 4
Both players found the fairway, though Jutanugarn had the advantage of 50 yards on Ardina. Both also reached the green in two. Ardina faced a 21-foot putt to the left of the hole, while Jutanugarn a 30-footer, also from the left. Jutanugarn's birdie putt pulled up 1 foot short and par was conceded. Ardina's birdie attempt stopped mere inches short of the hole. The hole was halved with pars
Jutanugarn, 1 up
Hole 1 - 394 yards, par 4
Off the first tee, Jutanugarn missed the fairway, but found the green with her second shot to 6 feet. Ardina hit the fairway, but came up 20 feet short of the green. She pitched on to 18 feet above the hole. Her par putt was short by 1 foot, and her bogey was conceded. Jutanugarn converted her birdie attempt to take the early 1-up lead.
Jutanugarn, 1 up
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Check out the action here as we'll be blogging live from the course. Ariya Jutanugarn and Dottie Ardina have teed off under overcast skies, and there is a threat of rain in the forecast. OFCC received almost three-quarters of an inch of rain last night during a boomer of a thunderstorm, but considering the northern Chicago suburbs received nearly 7 inches, that isn't too bad.