Lilly Thomas wins LNGA Amateur Championship on first playoff hole

Lilly Thomas made birdie on the first playoff hole to claim the LNGA Amateur Championship title on Wednesday afternoon. The 91st playing of the event took place over three days at The Country Club of St. Albans.

The junior at Tulsa began the day with a four-shot lead after going 8-under (70-66–136) the first two days of competition. The four-shot lead shrunk to just one after seven holes. Thomas was able to stay within a shot or be in a tie with Laila Raines and Ashley Lau on the back nine. The three made up the final group on Wednesday.

“It was a grind the whole day, started off a little rough on the third hole with a lost ball, but birdied the second ball to just make bogey,” Thomas said. “I got to the back nine and that’s where I was making birdies the most the first two days so I knew I could get it rolling on the back.”

Thomas and Raines both birdied the par 4 16th to tie for the lead at 6-under. One hole later, the pair made bogey while Lau made birdie and Lau marched to the 18th tee with a one-shot lead. Thomas, needing to make birdie, drained a 12-footer to force a playoff.

“Coming down 18 I knew I had to make that putt to force a playoff, firm right side, it went it so that was nice.”

RECAP | Lilly Thomas of @TulsaWGolf wins 91st #LNGAAmatuer in dramatic fashion with a long birdie on the first playoff hole 🐦

📰 https://t.co/3nPRQtUiGg pic.twitter.com/ppneIfewxS

— Ladies National Golf Association (@LNGA_Golf) July 28, 2021

Both Lau and Thomas headed back to the 18th tee for a sudden death playoff. Both hit the green in two and had long looks for birdie below the hole. Lau went first and came up just short to the left of the hole for a routine par. All eyes were on Thomas, who sank a forty-footer for the win. The Bentonville, Arkansas, native went 6-under (70-66-74–210) over the three days.

“I was excited to play 18 again for the playoff, I saw that break before with my playing partner, so I had a pretty good idea of what it was going to do.”

Ashley Lau took home runner-up honors. The senior at Michigan opened the event with a 5-under 67 and led after 18-holes. Lau finished 2-under her last two rounds to post a three-day score of 6-under (67-73-70–210).

“We were in the regional that was cut short, so us playing together again here was really fun for all of us,” Thomas said “It showed what would should’ve happened at the end of last season and builds our confidence going into this coming season.”

“It’s fun to be here, I haven’t seen them all summer, and it was good to get that team atmosphere back,” Haley Greb said. “These girls obviously played great this week but it’s fun because we push ourselves all the time on and off the golf course.”

🎙 | Lilly Thomas played 18 twice today ➡️ made birdie twice today 🐦🐦#LNGAAmateur pic.twitter.com/cjMzTsAWLg

— Ladies National Golf Association (@LNGA_Golf) July 28, 2021

Jennifer Cai claimed Junior Medalist honors. The sophomore at Northwestern was the only player under par in the race for the medal, shooting 2-under (71-71-72–214) over the three days. Cai was one of just three in the field to shoot par or better all three rounds.

Leila Raines finished in third place after a final round 1-under 71. The sophomore at Michigan State played consistent golf all week, going 5-under (69-71-71–211).

Sarah Bell set a new course record at The Country Club of St. Albans with a final round 8-under 64. The Cape Girardeau, Missouri, native carded seven birdies and an eagle. Bell moved all the way up into a tie for fifth after shooting the record round, and finished with a three-day total of 2-under (77-73-64–214).