Maja Stark claimed her first major title with a two-shot victory at the US Women’s Open to become the third Swede to lift the trophy.
Stark, the first Swedish winner since Annika Sorenstam won her third title in 2006, held off the challenge of world number one Nelly Korda of the United States and Japan’s Rio Taneka at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
“This just feels huge,” she said after a closing round of level-par 72 saw her win on seven under.
“You always know that it’s possible, but there are so many good golfers on this tour. I [didn’t] think I would be able to do it this week.
“I just didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I thought there’s still a lot of golf left to be played and I just felt like people are going to pass me probably, and I just had to stay calm through that.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboards until I was on 17. I caught a glimpse of it. It was nice.”
The 25-year-old started the final round with a one-shot lead and extended her lead to two with her first birdie of the day at the sixth as her playing partner Julia Lopez Ramirez struggled.
Korda, who was three back at the start of the day, closed to within one after playing the front nine in two under par.
However, Stark birdied the 11th, moments after Korda bogeyed the 13th, to take control and she reached nine under when she picked up another shot on the 14th.
Korda’s challenge petered out on the back nine and she closed with a bogey as she recorded her best finish in the US Women’s Open.
That allowed Stark the comfort of finishing with successive bogeys on the final two holes.
Korda, who has won two majors, is still seeking her first victory since November and the 26-year-old had mixed feelings after her final round of 71.
“It’s still very complicated,” she said of her relationship with the championship. “It’s just an absolute heartbreaker.
“Hopefully I can build off of this, putting myself in contention at a major and obviously just slipping just short. It hurts a little, but I’m happy with the progress and hopefully I can continue like this.”
England’s Charley Hull started the final round at level par and had four birdies and 10 pars in her opening 14 holes to climb the leaderboard. But she bogeyed the 15th and dropped two more shots on the 17th as she closed with a 71 to finish joint 12th on one under.
Fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad finished with a three-over 75 to pick up the prize as the best amateur on five over.
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, who was three under at the halfway stage, closed with a second successive 78 to drop to nine over par.
