Ariya, Moriya fall short despite stellar effort
THE JUTANUGARN sisters fought hard hard in yesterday’s final round of the LPGA ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage in California where both enjoyed brief stints atop the leader board.
The younger Ariya shot a brilliant 65 to finish with a 14-under-par 274, which made her one of the co-leaders before the awesome threesome of Park Inbee of South Korea, Jennifer Song of the US and overnight-leader Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden signed a stroke better at a 15-under-par 273.
Park and the underdog Linberg were still neck-and-neck after the fourth play-off and had to resume their duel last night. Song was out in the third tie-break.
“Before I teed off, I just felt like I really wanted to keep things under control and I just wanted to have fun because I have great memories here and I love this course,” said Ariya, who could have made a four-way lead in the end had she made a birdie putt on the 18th hole.
She and elder sister Moriya sparked Thai hopes of a first major win, as Moriya was also among the leaders at 13-under after the front nine.
“It’s awesome for me because I played good, and I had a chance to watch her play, and I was rooting for her to make some birdies and make some putts,” added Ariya, who settled at joint fourth along with American Jessica Korda, the LPGA Thailand winner in February.
The 2013 Rookie of the Year, Moriya, saw her chance slip after two bogeys on the 10th and 12th holes before she shot her last birdie on the 15th to settle with 13 under-par 275 for tied sixth. “It was the first major of the year, and I finished in the top 10. It’s always great to see your name on the leaderboard. I never get bored with that,” said Moriya.
Pornanong Phatlum, with an ending 67, took the lone 15th position with a total nine under-par- 279.
Thai teenager Atthaya Thitikul carded a 69 to finish with a 5-under-par 283 to be tied at 30th which earned her the Low-Amateur title.
Atthaya Thitikul
