Amy Yang didn't halt and catch fire. She caught fire and halted.
Yang closed the LPGA KEG Hana Bank Championship with an unprecedented nine consecutive birdies, leading to a T-4 finish, two shots behind winner Lexi Thompson. Yang's back-nine 27 was part of an 11-birdie effort at Sky 72 Golf Club in South Korea, leaving Yang with a final-round 10-under 62.
In addition to becoming the first LPGA player to close a tournament with nine consecutive birdies, Yang shot the lowest nine-hole score in relation to par in LPGA history and matched the lowest nine-hole score by strokes. Hall of Fame member Beth Daniel is the only other player to ever score nine consecutive circles on the card, doing so at the 1999 Philips Invitational.
Yang, who has shot 62 three times in her pro career, said she drew on past hot streaks to keep this one going to the finish line.
“I had so many experiences like this, so I'm just trying to keep it simple,” Yang said.
Perhaps it was a frustrating opening 54 holes that inspired the final nine. At 3 under par through the first three rounds, Yang had nothing to lose on Sunday.
“The last three days, I've been just struggling a little bit out there swing-wise,” said Yang. “[I said to myself,] You know what, I'm not playing for winning or anything. Just let's go have fun.”
