Charley Hull fell short in her latest attempt at winning a first major title, as the American Lilia Vu produced a brilliant final-round 67 to win by six shots on a day when the Women’s Open became the latest sporting event to be interrupted by Just Stop Oil protesters.
England’s Hull began the day tied for the lead with Vu but while the latter posted a serene five-under-par total at Walton Heath to clinch her second major, the home favourite finished with a one-over-par 73.
Vu, who won the first major of the year in April at the Chevron Championship, made six birdies, dropping her only shot on the 15th, and was never seriously threatened after Hull made bogeys at the 4th and 5th.
Hull was unable to kickstart her challenge until a brilliant eagle at the 11th. That took her to within two shots of Vu, but two more dropped shots at the 15th and 17th scuppered her hopes.
The 27-year-old finished with a flurry, saving par at the 18th with a monster putt having hit from the rough into a bunker, but Vu sealed a comfortable win with another birdie.
The overnight joint-leaders started the final round one shot clear of the American Angel Yin and South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo, but the former world No 1 and two-time Open winner Jiyai Shin sealed third place with a final round of 70.
Shin finished one shot clear of her fellow South Koreans Amy Yang (70) and Kim (74), while the American trio Allisen Corpuz, Ally Ewing – who had led by five shots after the second round – and Yin were tied in sixth place.
Hull paid the price for two dropped shots on the 4th and 5th, finding herself three shots adrift of Vu, who had birdied the 2nd, heading into the 5th.
Vu’s lead was cut to two shots when Hull produced a superb eagle at the par-five 11th, holing from the greenside sand before shrieking in celebration and stumbling on her way out of the bunker, but the 25-year-old Californian showed nerves of steel and responded with a birdie at the 12th.
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Both players made bogeys at the 15th before Vu extended her advantage with birdies at 16th and 18th, while Hull faltered as dropped shots at the 15th and 17th sandwiched her only birdie of the day at the 16th.
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Play was interrupted briefly when protesters let off flares on the 17th after Vu and Hull had both completed the hole, with those involved led away by police and security staff.
Hull finished joint-second at the US Women’s Open last month at Pebble Beach, but missed the cut at the year’s three other majors.
English (US)