Gorman grad Park wins LPGA Thailand

CHONBURI, Thailand — Inbee Park won the LPGA money title last year and was No. 1 in scoring average.

If her 2013 debut is any indicator, it would appear Park has no intent of slowing down.

The former Bishop Gorman standout, a two-time Nevada state high school champion, took advantage of overnight leader Ariya Jutanugarn’s triple bogey on the last hole Sunday to claim a one-stroke victory in the LPGA Thailand.

Jutanugarn, 17, of Thailand, blew a two-stroke lead on the 18th when she first had to take a drop and then missed a 3-foot putt to force a playoff. Jutanugarn, who had a hole-in-one earlier in the round, was moved to tears as the putt lipped out, while a surprised Park started celebrating in the clubhouse with her caddie.

“I just didn’t expect this kind of finish,” said Park, who sympathized with Jutanugarn. “If I was in Ariya’s situation, I would be very, very nervous, and I don’t think I would’ve handled the pressure until the last hole. I think she handled the pressure well today and this week. Just the last day, I just think it’s going to happen. She’s going to be a great player later on.”

The fourth-ranked Park, 24, finished with a 67 for a 12-under 276 total, with Jutanugarn a shot back after a 72.

Top-ranked Yani Tseng of Taiwan shot a final-round 63 to finish another stroke back in third with Beatriz Recari of Spain (70) and So Yeon Ryu of South Korea (68).

It was the fourth LPGA win for Park, after her most recent in the 2012 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia last October.

“Out of all the other wins, this win just felt like it was not as much work this week,” said Park, who is from South Korea.

Jutanugarn’s troubles on the par-5 last hole began when she landed in a bunker and had to take a drop for an unplayable lie. She then overshot the green before three-putting for an 8.

“I was really disappointed because I went onto the course hoping to win not for myself, but for the whole country,” Jutanugarn said. “A lot of people came to support me and wanted to see me win. But I didn’t make it. However, I was so happy they still supported me, even I didn’t live up to their expectations.”

Jutanugarn had fought back from a stroke behind Park by hitting a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th to regain the lead at 14 under — and win a car from a sponsor. But she then paid the price for playing too aggressively on the last.

“I went for two shots (to the green) instead of three on the 18th hole. I was crazy to do that, and I learned my lesson,” she said. “I thought I would finish with a bogey at worst and win by a shot, but I never imagined this.”