Sweden’s Stark holds nerve to win US Women’s Open

-7 M Stark (Swe), -5 N Korda (US), R Taneka (Jpn), -4 H-J Choi (Kor), R Yin (Chi), M Saigo (Jpn), -3 H Cooper (US), H Shibuno (Jpn)

Selected others: -1 C Hull (Eng), + 1 J Lopez Ramirez (Spa), + 2 M Lee (Aus), + 3 L Ko (NZ), + 5 L Woad (Eng), + 9 G Dryburgh (Sco)

Maja Stark became the third Swede to win the trophy at the US Women’s Open after claiming her first major title by two shots.

At Erin Hills in Wisconsin, Stark, the first Swedish champion since Annika Sorenstam won her third title in 2006, defeated Japan’s Rio Taneka and American world number one Nelly Korda.

After winning the round of level-par 72, she said, “This just feels huge.”

There are so many talented golfers on this tour, but you always know it’s possible. I [didn’t] believe I would be able to do it this week.

Simply put, I was afraid to get ahead of myself. I simply felt like people were probably going to pass me because I didn’t want to play a lot of golf, so I had to stay calm throughout.

“Until I was 17 years old, I didn’t look at the leaderboards.” It was visible to me. It was pleasant.

As her playing partner Julia Lopez Ramirez struggled, the 25-year-old started the final round with a one-shot lead before adding her one-shot lead to two with her first birdie of the day in the sixth round.

Korda finished the day at three back after playing the first nine in two under par.

However, Stark birdied the eleventh and Korda’s 13th, taking the lead before going nine under when she picked up a second shot on the fourteenth.

Korda finished with a bogey in her best performance in the US Women’s Open, which was a letdown from the back nine.

Stark was able to rest assured that he would hit the final two holes with more bogeys later.

Korda, who has won two majors, is still looking for her first win since November, and the 26-year-old had mixed emotions following her 71st-round 71st.

She described her relationship with the championship as “still very complicated.” It’s merely a heartbreaking experience.

“Hopefully I can build on this, putting myself in contention for a major and, evidently, coming in only short. Although it hurts a little, I’m pleased with the progress and hope to keep doing it.

Charley Hull, an Englishman, had four birdies and 10 pars in her first 14 holes to top the leaderboard. She had par for the final round. However, she finished joint 12th overall and dropped two more shots on the 17th when she closed with a 71.

Lottie Woad, an Englishwoman, won the title of best amateur after three over 75 at the end of the tournament.