‘Speechless’ Furue bags first major at Evian Championship

Japan’s Ayaka Furue bagged her first major triumph on the women’s tour with a strong finish at the Evian Championship on Sunday.

The 24-year-old had led at the midway stage then went into the fourth round trailing Stephanie Kyriacou by two shots.

But a superb closing 65 gave her a 19 under par total of 265 and a career landmark win in the fourth of five majors on the women’s tour.

Australia’s Kyriacou took second, one shot adrift, with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit third a further shot behind.

“Breathtaking, like incredible and I’m so speechless” beamed Furue, who becomes Japan’s third women’s major winner after Hinako Shibuno, winner of the 2019 Women’s (British) Open, and Hisako Higuchi, winner of the 1977 LPGA Championship.