EVIAN: Japan’s Ayaka Furue on Sunday won the Evian Championship in France, clinching her first victory in a women’s major golf tournament.

Furue, who was in second place after the third round Saturday, finished the final round at 6 under par at 65, with one eagle, six birdies and two bogeys.

After starting the second half of the final round in third place, two shots behind the tournament leader, Furue temporarily saw the gap between her and the leader expand to three shots.

But she made a recovery with three consecutive birdies from the 14th hole.

In a dramatic finish at the 18th hole, she secured an eagle, edging out the second-place player by one shot to clinch her first major title. Furue had a total score of 19-under par.

“I could play, firmly believing in myself,” Furue said.

Among other Japanese players, Akie Iwai finished 10th at 9-under par at the Evian Championship, played at Evian Resort Golf Club.

Furue is the fourth Japanese female golfer to have claimed a major championship. “I’m incredibly happy (about this honor),” she said.

Before Furue, Hisako Higuchi won the 1977 LPGA Championship, Hinako Shibuno clinched the Women’s British Open in 2019 and Yuka Saso secured a victory in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2021 and this year.

Furue’s winning of the Evian Championship, this year’s fourth major golf tournament for women, marked her second career victory in the U.S. LPGA Tour, following her victory in the 2022 Women’s Scottish Open.

The fifth and final major championship for 2024, the Women’s British Open, is set to take place in August.

JIJI Press