South Africa’s Paula Reto claims first LPGA title at CP Women's Open

Cape Town born Paula Reto celebrates with the championship trophy following her win at the CP Women's Open. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images via AFP

Cape Town born Paula Reto celebrates with the championship trophy following her win at the CP Women's Open. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images via AFP

Published Aug 29, 2022

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Paula Reto held off Nelly Korda to win her first LPGA Tour title at the CP Women's Open on Sunday in Ottawa, Ontario.

Reto shot a 4-under-par 67 in the final round to tie up a 19-under 265 for the week. The South African set the course record at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Thursday with a first-round 62, but she entered Sunday trailing rookies Hye-Jin Choi and Na Rin An of South Korea by a stroke.

Reto birdied the first, third, sixth, eighth and ninth holes to shoot ahead to20 under for the tournament. She played the back nine in 1 over, but by that point she had enough of a cushion to see the win through.

Her tap-in par at the par-5 18th secured the milestone victory.

"I was so nervous, oh my gosh," Reto said on the CBS broadcast. "Coming to thelast hole, I (told myself) ‘OK, just calm your nerves.'"

The 32-year-old has played on the LPGA Tour since 2014. Her previous best finish was a third-place mark at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in her rookie year.

"I'm really happy, and it's been such a long time," Reto said. "I was like,‘I hope one day I'll win.' You know? But it came true. A dream come true for sure."

Korda, the world No. 3, made a late push after playing the front nine in even par. She birdied No. 11 before holing out for an eagle at the par-4 12th,jumping to 17 under at the time.

After a bogey and two more birdies, Korda couldn't hole a birdie putt at either of the last two holes to tie Reto at 19 under. She also carded a 67 and tied for second with Choi (69).

Lydia Ko of New Zealand, ranked fourth in the world, rolled in birdies at each of her last four holes to shoot an 8-under 63, tied for the low round of the day. She finished alone in fourth at 17 under. A Lim Kim of South Korea (67)was fifth at 16 under.

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