NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Madeleine Thugstrom overcame a four-hole lead at Hughard Shadow Creek in a one-man victory in a Sunday 1-up of Lauren Coffliners on T-Mobile Match Play after a drought of over five years of LPGA Tour victory.
Sagstrom took the lead with a par on the par 5 16th hole. Cofflin made a double bogey in the hole.
Perhaps it was fitting when the world’s top-ranked players fell one after another on picturesque but tough courses, when 67th place claimed a $300,000 winner’s share. Other Sweden victory took place in 2020 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Bocario.
The final match reached the 18th green for the first time in an event five years ago.
In the 32-year-old battle, Sagstrom took a four-hole lead after just six holes as Cofflin bogeyed No. 2 and the Swedes rolled three consecutive birdies from fourth place.
Kuglyn led by claiming five of the next six holes. She played her role in a pair of birdies, but Cofflin didn’t have to do anything epic as Thugstrom had three bogeys and two doubles in that stretch.
Coughlin then bogeyed par 3 13th place, and Sagstrom made a pal and pulled back evenly.
Both players were unable to leave the rough, and Cofflin even chipped twice as much from the same place after the ball returned to her. Coughlin finally admitted the hole after a 30-foot putt passed by and a double bogey led Sagstrom.
Cofflin, 17th, is tough on all tournaments. She played at least 18 holes in all matches and played in a total of 127 in the traditional stroke play tournament, compared to 72. Coughlin was three down in the previous two matches before rallies to win, including one win over Ariya Jutanugarn in the semi-finals on Sunday morning.
Sagstrom was also pushed to its limits.
She survived a 19-hole round round match against Carlota Ciganda on Saturday, and had to wait more than two hours as Celine Butier and Ashley Buhai went over 28 holes. It then became another marathon as Sagstrom and Beauty were tied up 17 when the darkness began. The match was suspended, and Sagstrom won the 19-hole quarter-finals early Sunday morning.
Sagstrom won 12th place Angel Inn 4 and 2 in the semi-finals.
Cofflin was hoping for her first victory since Scotland’s opening in August. The Charlottesville, Virginia resident has two career victories last year.