(Irvine) Lauren Coughlin pulled away with a superb performance on the greens to win the Scottish Women’s Open on Sunday.
The 31-year-old American shot a 3-under 69 to claim her second LPGA title of the summer and secure a spot on Team USA’s Solheim Cup roster.
Coughlin, who won the Canadian Open three weeks ago, rallied after two early bogeys to edge American Megan Khang on the front nine and then Germany’s Esther Henseleit on the back nine at Dundonald Links.
Coughlin had just one putt on each of the last seven holes. She led by three shots at the 16th.e flag when she got stuck in the sand trap. The American, however, made a nice save for par.
She also had a par on 17.e hole, while she was outside the green. The champion punctuated her performance with a birdie following a putt from a distance of 25 feet, on the 18the pennant.
Coughlin finished the tournament with a cumulative score of 15-under, four shots better than Henseleit’s 70. The German finished second for the second straight time, after winning the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Coughlin secured one of six automatic berths into the Solheim Cup based on her points. The tournament will be held Sept. 13-15 in Virginia and will be her first appearance.
Khang was tied for the lead after five holes but did not make another birdie in her 74. She tied for third with Japan’s Ayaka Furue (68).
Canadian Savannah Grewal shot 70 and moved into a tie for 20e place. Her compatriot Brooke M. Henderson (75) finished 61e.
The golfers now head to Scotland for the Women’s British Open, the final major tournament of the year, which will be held at St. Andrews.