Australia's Hannah Green makes golfing history with win in mixed-gender event

FILE - Hannah Green of Australia plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 19, 2021 in Naples, Florida. Photo: Douglas P. DeFelice/AFP

FILE - Hannah Green of Australia plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 19, 2021 in Naples, Florida. Photo: Douglas P. DeFelice/AFP

Published Feb 20, 2022

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Sydney — Former US LPGA champion Hannah Green made history on Sunday by becoming the first woman to win a mixed-gender professional golf tournament with a dominant four-shot victory at the TPS Murray River event in Australia.

The world number 30 overcame gusty conditions and a host of chasing male rivals to shoot a closing five-under-par 66 at Cobram Barooga Golf Club and clinch the title.

It is the first time a woman has won a 72-hole mixed tournament on any major world tour at this level.

"It's weird. I don't normally have golf dreams -– very, very rarely -– but I actually had one last night of me after winning," Green told reporters.

"I didn't know how many I won by but for it to come true is really cool.

"I feel amazing. I'm just so grateful that I came," she added, having won the Vic Open last weekend. "It actually wasn't my plan to play; I was hoping to go back to Perth.

"Things happen for a reason so I'm really glad that I made it."

Green, the 2019 US LPGA champion, started the final round in a four-way tie for the lead with Andrew Evans, Matthew Millar and Blake Collyer.

But she charged clear when she chipped in for eagle on the par-five 10th hole and never looked back.

The tournament was part of PGA Australia's innovative Players Series introduced in 2021, and sees women and men competing on adjusted tees but otherwise level terms for the same prize purse and one trophy.

The previous best result by a woman was Su Oh's equal-third at TPS Victory last year.

AFP

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