The final major championship of 2018 ended in heartbreaking fashion for American Amy Olson. Entering Sunday with a two-shot lead at the Evian Championship, Olson went out in 1-over par 36, but never lost at least a share of the lead until the 72nd hole.
Playing her back nine in even par, Olson held a one-shot lead on the 18th tee when she hooked her tee shot into the left trees. Forced to lay up, Olson couldn’t reach the fairway with her second shot, but found the green in three.
Facing a lengthy par putt for the win, the Oxbow, North Dakota native ran her first putt well by the hole and wasn’t able to make her 10-foot bogey putt, resulting in a gut-wrenching double bogey that left her in a four-way tie for second place.
ICYMI: Final round highlights from @EvianChamp where @Angela_Stanford taught us all to never give up. pic.twitter.com/P8EqCIYVuK
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 16, 2018
Angela Stanford, who missed a birdie on the 18th hole to match Olson’s 13-under par number, was the recipient of Olson’s misfortune. Stanford, 40, won her first major championship 15 years after she came up short in a three-way playoff at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open. It was her sixth win on the LPGA Tour and her first since 2012.
“I know me very well, and I do a bunch of stupid stuff,” an emotional Stanford said after the round. “But deep down I’m a fighter. I’m a grinder.”
For Olson, she was gracious in defeat.
“I’m very pleased,” she said. “This is my best finish, I believe, in a major so that’s always a positive. Obviously, disappointed to finish the way I did, but, honestly, I did everything I could, and double bogeys happen.”
