BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Candie Kung made it a point not to look at the leaderboard until she holed out on the 18th green on Sunday in the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open. When she did finally sneak a peek, she realized that her 1-over par total was good for a share of the lead.
“Then I said [to myself], ‘Oh, that was a costly bogey on 17.”
Kung, who began the day at 3 over, five shots back of third-round leader Cristie Kerr, actually held the lead at even par standing on the 17th tee. But the three-time LPGA Tour winner pulled a wedge into the left greenside bunker, leaving an almost impossible up and down to the back-left hole location from about 10 yards.
About 20 minutes later, while she was standing on the practice green preparing for a possible playoff, she got word that Eun-Hee Ji had sunk a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to win the championship.
“The bunker shot, it was straight down toward the hole and a lot of everything,” said Kung. “There was no stopping it. I heard all of the roars and realized it almost went in.”
The ball slipped by the left edge and ran 15 feet past the hole into the fringe. Her par attempt then came up inches short. Had Kung converted the putt, she would have met the goal she had set for the week, which was to finish at even par.
“I came in here thinking about finishing even par for the week and whatever happens, happens,” said Kung, who was 5 under on the weekend. “Eun-Hee goes out there and makes that last putt and finishes even. What can you do.”
