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Ariya Jutanugarn becomes first Thai winner on LPGA Tour

PRATTVILLE, AL - MAY 08:  Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand waves to the gallery after making a birdie on the third hole during the final round of the Yokohama
Image: Ariya Jutanugarn was all smiles after winning in Alabama

Ariya Jutanugarn clung on by a stroke to win the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and become the first Thai winner on the tour.

Jutanugarn saw off the combined challenge of Amy Yang, Morgan Pressel and Stacy Lewis by a stroke after losing two shots from her third round lead.

She had previously led going into Sunday on two occasions and, for a spell, it seemed an unwanted hat-trick might be on the cards,

The 20-year-old dropped a shot on the 17th, and couldn't find the fairway at the last with her drive, failing also to hit the green with her approach.

But she calmly chipped her third shot to within five feet and, with the pressure high, holed to secure her first LPGA title with a level-par round of 71.

Last month in the ANA Inspiration, she had a two-stroke lead with three holes left and closed with three bogeys to finish fourth, two strokes behind winner Lydia Ko in one of the season's major championships.

The rest of the challengers had made big moves on Sunday, with Yang carding eight birdies in her round of 67. Sadly, two of her three bogeys came in the final four holes as she finished on 13 under.

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Lewis made it round in 68, with four birdies, but missed a number of chances to join Jutanugarn at the top of the leaderboard.

Pressel closed with two birdies in her final three holes, but that was only enough for a matching 68 and a share of second with Lewis and Yang.

Sweden's Caroline Hedwall fared best of the European challenge in fifth, also closing with a round of 68

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