Eleven years and 246 starts after her LPGA Tour debut Jodi Ewart Shadoff has won her first title going wire-to-wire in the LPGA Mediheal Championship.
She shot a final-round 71 to reach 15-under at The Saticoy Club becoming the 11th different champion from England on Tour.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. I’ve waited a long time for this,” said Ewart Shadoff. “It’s been many times in my career that I didn’t think this was ever going to happen, so just really grateful in this moment.”
She started the day with a four-shot lead that quickly diminshed as she bogeyed the third and was tied with playing partner Paula Reto by the seventh hole at 13-under. A bogey at the 9th left Ewart Shadoff one-stroke back of Reto at the turn but she went on to birdie the 12th and 14th while South African Reto bogeyed the 16th and 17th to finish in a tie for third place at 13-under.
“I learned that I could fight through adversity. I can play under the nerves, which it’s been kind of a problem for me in the past, is just trying to settle the nerves down and play through it,” said Ewart Shadoff. “I think I proved to myself that I can do it. I proved I can win. It’s been a long time, and like I could, I didn’t think I would ever be sat here honestly. Just really grateful.”
Birdie on 8 ✅
Par save on 9 ✅@paularetoSA has taken the lead at the @MEDIHEALChamp.Stream now ➡️ https://t.co/cvw3sWN4pO pic.twitter.com/UM8jAXVmsT
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 9, 2022
Japan’s Yuka Saso had her season-best result finishing in solo second after carding a 6-under 66 to finish at 14-under.
“I played pretty consistent like I did yesterday. Tee shot was pretty consistent too. I made some putts. I gave myself a chance. Yeah, I think I just played really consistent,” said Saso. “I think trying to be patient with everything and trying to have fun. I think that’s what I’m going to take from this week.”
Englishwoman Georgia Hall and American Danielle Kang share third place with Reto after Hall closed with a bogey-free 7-under 65 and Kang earned her second top-3 finish in her last three starts with a 67.
“I thrive off the gallery, so I love when people cheer and come out and watch and have that momentum and that vibe. So hopefully this encourages people to come out and know that it’s really fun to watch. I had as much fun as other people did outside,” said Kang. “There is some really good golf being played out there today, and I’m a little bit bummed on the fact that I didn’t give myself enough birdie chances coming in, but I did the best that I could.”
