EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Former Hickory High and University of Virginia star Lauren Coughlin held the lead for several holes during Sunday’s final round of the Evian Championship, but two late bogeys and a furious charge by three other players resulted in a fourth-place finish in the LPGA major tournament.
Ayaka Furue of Japan made an eagle on the last hole and three birdies on her previous four holes to shoot a 6-under 65 for a one-shot victory over Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou. It was Furue’s first major title.
Coughlin, 31, had four birdies on the front nine for a 4-under 31 to take the lead, but had bogeys on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th holes to settle for a 2-under 69. She finished at 15-under 269.
It was Coughlin’s second top-five finish in an LPGA major this year and earned her $410,626. She tied for third at the Chevron Championship in April. It was also her fourth top-10 finish on the tour this year.
The 24-year-old Furue finished at 19-under 265. Kyriacou, the third-round leader, shot a 4-under 67 and finished with birdies on three of her last four holes.
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit fired a superb 8-under 63 to finish in third, two shots back. She eagled the 18th and had three birdies on the back nine.
Heading to the 18th hole, Furue and Kyriacou were level at 17 under with Tavatanakit, who was already in the clubhouse.
Furue teed off well and found the fairway, but Kyriacou’s shot swerved left into the rough.
Furue found the green with her second shot, giving her a championship shot and, moments later, she was doused with Champagne. Her previous best performance at a major was fourth at Evian in 2021.
The 23-year-old Kyriacou, who birdied the 18th, also secured her best result. Her previous best was a tie for seventh at the Women’s British Open two years ago.
Tavatanakit won a major at the ANA Inspiration in 2021.
Overnight, Kyriacou was one stroke ahead of Furue and Coughlin.
Kyriacou birdied the 15th to move level with Coughlin. Furue was gaining momentum at that point, sinking back-to-back birdies from the edge of the green on the 14th and 15th. Her approach to the 16th hole gave her another birdie chance and she took it to stay one behind Kyriacou, who also birdied, and Tavatanakit.
“I kept giving myself a lot of opportunities,” Tavatanakit said. “I told myself to just trust myself and feel it.”
Kyriacou and Coughlin struggled on the approach to the green on the 311-yard 17th hole and both bogeyed.
Furue almost made another brilliant long birdie, which would have given her the outright lead. Instead, she went to the final hole level with Kyriacou and Tavatanakit.
Top-ranked American Nelly Korda tied for 26th in a group including 2018 champion Angela Stanford of the United States and 2022 winner Brooke Henderson of Canada.
