Hull claims first LPGA Tour victory

Charley Hull claimed her first victory on the LPGA Tour by clinching the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Florida.
The 20-year-old from Kettering shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to out duel South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon at Tiburon in Naples.
Hull was tied with Ryu on 18-under heading to the penultimate hole, where the Briton birdied the par-five, while Ryu took a bogey after having to hit out sideways from a greenside bunker.
She then coolly two-putted on the 18th to prevail by two shots, posting a 19-under total.
“I was pretty calm,” Hull said. “When I’m on the golf course, I try not to think about golf. It makes me think I’m not leading the golf tournament and that’s what I did.”
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, a five-time winner this season, shot 69 to finish in a tie for fourth at 14-under-par and claimed $1m for winning the Race to the CME Globe bonus.
The 20-year-old also clinched Player of the Year honours ahead of world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who posted a final-round 72 for 11-under 277.
“I had my goal to win my first tournament and I did. To win the Player of the Year, it’s huge,” Jutanugarn said.
Rookie of the Year Chun In-gee of South Korea finished with three birdies, the last one nudging her ahead of Ko to win the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average with 69.583 to 69.596.
“I knew if I make putt, I have a chance for the Vare Trophy,” Chun said. “I made the big putt. I was so happy.”