LANCASTER, Pa. – Atop the leaderboard, veteran Karrie Webb and second-year LPGA Tour player Marina Alex did their best to temper expectations at the U.S. Women’s Open.

Both early starters opened with a 4-under-par 66 on Thursday, and that score held up through the afternoon before things turned wet and windblown. Play was suspended in the early evening after a storm packing high winds, lightning and heavy rain pounded Lancaster Country Club.

The sudden halt to the action with 55 players needing to complete their rounds – with at least two threatening the lead – left Webb and Alex as unlikely co-leaders.

The USGA’s plan is to restart the first round at 6:45 a.m. Friday and begin the second round at 7:15.

Amy Yang was in the clubhouse a shot behind the leaders. Two players on the course were also at 3 under: Na Yeon Choi, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, had three holes to play, while Jane Park had five.

Top-ranked Inbee Park birdied two of her last three holes before play was stopped and was at 2 under through 14. Morgan Pressel and six other morning starters shot a 2-under 68.

The 40-year-old Webb reeled off four birdies on her second nine holes and finished with her first score in the 60s in a U.S. Open since 2001, when the Australian won the tournament for the second straight year.

The seven-time major champ started on the back nine and reeled off 10 straight pars before making her move with birdies at the second, fourth, sixth and eighth holes.

This season has been a struggle for Webb, who has three top-10 finishes in 14 starts. That all changed Thursday when she hit 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens.

“It’s been a test of my patience. I feel like I’ve had some good golf in me,” Webb said.

An eighth major title would move her into a tie for sixth place with Betsy Rawls, but Webb said it was too early to think about that.

“That’s never been a goal of mine,” she said. “I’m just happy to get off to a good start and hopefully continue to play this good for the next three days.”

Alex, playing in her second U.S. Open and first since 2009, was a surprise atop the leaderboard. The 24-year-old from Wayne, New Jersey, is in her second season on the LPGA Tour. She missed the cut five straight weeks and her best finish was a tie for ninth in Arkansas.

She’d been working on swing changes before the tournament, and it finally all came together.

She hit a 5-wood to within 18 feet on the ninth hole and made a curling birdie putt.

“It was the best putt and best shot of the day for me, so that was great,” she said.

Alex was an amateur when she played in her first U.S. Open.

“I qualified like the last spot on my sectional,” she said. “My game then and now is not even remotely the same. I was a nervous kid, pretty much.”

On Thursday, she embraced the championship atmosphere and cheering crowds.

“I’m not a front-runner for this tournament, really,” she said. “So I’m just going to go out there and have fun tomorrow with my caddie and just keep doing the things that we’ve been doing and just see where that puts me.”

Elizabeth Nagel, a 23-year-old playing her second professional event, was in the group two strokes off the lead. Making her U.S. Open debut wasn’t going to rattle the cancer survivor.

After a trip to her doctor because of cold symptoms during her junior year at Michigan State, Nagel was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She had surgery to remove her thyroid and cancerous lymph node in her neck. Nagel went through radioactive iodine treatments and was declared cancer free about a year later.

“It kind of brings all this into perspective and makes this even more special,” she said. “Everybody says it, but when you make a bogey you keep pressing on. When you’ve heard the `C’ word and went through that whole battle really in your life, it brings everything back to even keel.”

Stacey Lewis, who finished second last year, shot a 69, while Lydia Ko opened with 70, and defending champion Michelle Wie, slowed by injury and illness this season, shot a 2-over 72.

Jimin Kang withdrew after 16 holes, citing illness.

Canadian Christina Foster made her professional debut today with a round of 1-over par 71. Currently Brooke Henderson sits at 1-over par with two holes to play tomorrow to complete her first round.

LANCASTER, PA. – Brooke Henderson might be a little worse for wear after a minor car accident last week, but that’s not stopping the 17-year-old from a busy stretch of golf.

It starts with the Women’s U.S. Open this week as Henderson continues to try to earn enough money to qualify for her LPGA card for next season.

The goal is to earn as much as 40^th place on the LPGA money list (she would currently be 22^nd with $317,000). She cannot be a member of the LPGA Tour until she turns 18 (in September) and has been turned down in her request for a special age exemption.

The LPGA has ruled it will count her money earned this summer as official when she turns 18. If she earn as much as 40^th place on the money list (which looks like it might be about $450,000) she will earn her card for 2016.

After winning on the developmental Symetra Tour last month and being granted membership, she could also earn her card by finishing in the top 10 on that Tour’s money list.

That’s why she withdrew from competing for Canada at the Pan-Am Games next week. She’ll be playing the Symetra Tour event in Rochester, N.Y. to try and boost her chances.

Henderson said she remains confident choosing the Symetra Tour over the Pan-Am Games was the right thing to do.

“I’m very happy with my decision,” she said after a practice round at the Lancaster C.C. “Of course I love playing for Canada and I’m hoping to play in the Olympics next year. I wear the Maple Leaf on my shirt every time. I love playing for Canada, but I know it was the right decision.”

Her other options to earn an LPGA card are by winning one of her remaining Tour starts. The last resort is going through qualifying school in the fall.

After another Symetra Tour event in Albany, Henderson will be off to the Ricoh British Women’s Open at Trump Turnberry Resort in Scotland  July 30-Aug. 2. She was granted a special exemption for the women’s major.

At this point, her last chance to earn money on the LPGA Tour will be at the Canadian Pacific Canadian Women’s Open Aug. 17-23 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. The championship will be her sixth and last sponsor’s exemption, the most allowed for an LPGA non-member.

There remains a chance she could play in more LPGA events by Monday qualifying.

In the meantime, she could take a big step this week with another strong performance at the U.S. Open. She finished tied for 10^th last year at Pinehurst as an amateur which earned her a place in the field this week.

This is the most lucrative event in women’s golf with a pursue of $4.5 million, the United States Golf Association announced Wednesday. The winner will receive $810,000. Tenth place is worth $121,500.

“I’m in a good position. I’m far from being safe with that top 40 though, and I know that my next three tournaments – this one, British and Canadian Open – will be really important,” she said. “That’s another reason why this week it’s really important that I play and that I play well.”

Henderson’s leg was a little sore after her accident – which caused her to withdraw from the Symetra Tour event in Michigan last week – but after a couple of trips over the Lancaster C.C.’s rolling hills, she’s ready to go.

“I’m excited for this week. There’s a reason why I’m ready to play and I want to see what I can do with it. It’s been an interesting week, but I’m very grateful to be here,” Henderson said. “It’s by the grace of God that I’m here this week and able to play.

“I think I have to take the most out of this opportunity.”

Entries have now closed for the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open field at Trump Turnberry Resort, Scotland, July 30 to August 2.

Seventeen year old Canadian Brooke Henderson turned professional at the end of 2014 and, with only limited playing rights, has stormed up the rankings. The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., currently sits at No.46 on the Rolex Rankings. Henderson’s impressive professional debut has resulted in the Championship Committee awarding her a special exemption into the 2015 Championship.

Henderson commented, “I am so excited to play in my first Ricoh Women’s British Open and I am very grateful to the Championship Committee for granting me this opportunity. I played in the 2012 Ladies British Amateur at Carnoustie and I absolutely loved visiting Scotland so I am super excited to be heading back there again. I really enjoyed the different challenges of playing links golf in Scotland and, now that I have gained a little more experience, I think I will enjoy it even more. I can’t wait to get to the Trump Turnberry Resort.”

All of the current top-20 on the Rolex World Ranking, along with all of the current top-20 on both the LPGA Race to the CME Globe and the LET Order of Merit, are in the field for the 39th playing of the Championship. The impressive field will be competing for a prize fund of £1,990,266 (US $3 million).

Mo Martin, the 2014 Champion, has the tough task of defending her title against a field including all of the world’s best players. The entry list includes World No.1 Inbee Park, World No.2 Lydia Ko, World No.3 Stacy Lewis, World No 12 Lexi Thompson, defending U.S. Open Champion Michelle Wie, Ricoh Ambassadors Paula Creamer and Charley Hull, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, the 2009 Champion and English legend Dame Laura Davies.

The star-studded field is also the most international of the five women’s majors with 23 nationalities already represented in the field to be finalized at the conclusion of final qualifying on Monday 27th July at Irvine Golf Club.

Australian veteran Karrie Webb claimed the Women’s British Open title in 2002 when the Championship last visited Turnberry.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and has been staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

The full list of confirmed entrants into the Championship, can be found here.

ROGERS, Ark. – Na Yeon Choi felt as if she had nothing to lose starring down her second shot on the par-5 18th hole at Pinnacle Country Club.

The eight-time LPGA Tour winner certainly played without a sense of fear throughout her second round at the NW Arkansas Championship on Saturday, matching her career best with an 8-under 63 to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

Choi reached 13 under overall after sinking a 45-foot eagle putt on the 525-yard final hole, a shot she set up with a fearless 3-wood approach shot to the elevated green.

“I got the 3-wood out first, then changed it to a pitching wedge and then back to a 3-wood because there is a small gap to the right side of the green,” Choi said. “… I mean, I couldn’t hit a 3-wood if today is Sunday, but today’s Saturday, and I feel good about my swing so I just hit it.”

Choi had reason to feel comfortable at Pinnacle, where she’s never shot above par in 23 career rounds and has finished in the top 10 in each of the last four years.

The South Korean will enter Sunday’s final round with a two-shot lead over Mi Jung Hur and Anna Nordqvist and in search of her ninth career LPGA title – her first since opening the year with a victory at the Coates Golf Championship.

“This course seems like it suits me, so I feel confidence,” Choi said.

In addition to Hur and Nordqvist at 11 under, several players enter the final round within striking distance – none more notable than defending champion and local favorite Stacy Lewis at 9 under overall.

The former Arkansas standout was also four shots off the lead entering the final round last year when she sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to earn her 11th career victory.

Lewis hasn’t won since, but she sank a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 17 on Saturday, and she followed that by capping her round with another birdie on the par-5 18th – much to the delight of the partisan gallery following her every shot at Pinnacle Country Club.

She finished with a second-round 65, doing so after an early round double bogey.

“I just stayed patient and finally hit some good shots and rolled the rock in there at the end,” Lewis said. “Those two putts on 17 and 18 were huge going into tomorrow, but it also gave the fans something to cheer about, too.”

While Lewis will enjoy the biggest spotlight on Sunday, she’ll have to catch Choi.

The South Korean’s second-round 8 under was one shot off the course record of 62, set in 2008 by both Angela Park and Jane Park. Also, Choi’s two-round total of 13-under par was one shot off the 36-hole record set by Veronica Felibert in 2012.

One South Korean who won’t be around for the final round is top-ranked Inbee Park, who missed her first cut in more than a year. Park shot a 1-over 72 to finish 1 under overall, the same score as Michelle Wie, who also missed the cut.

Hur opened the day by finishing her first round with a 63 to take the lead, and she followed with a second-round 68 to reach 11 under.

Nordqvist, who won the ShopRite LPGA Classic last month, also reached 11 under with a birdie on her final hole of the second round. She followed an opening 65 with a 66 on Saturday.

 Canada’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham carded an even-par 71 to make Sunday’s final round of the 54-hole tournament.

Alena Sharp missed the cut by two-strokes despite a second round of one-under 70. Sue Kim posted a 68 on the day and Jennifer Kirby shot 72, both missed the two-under cut.

ROGERS, Ark. – Azahara Munoz hasn’t been one to make excuses about her struggling golf game since surgery on her left hand to remove a benign tumor in March.

The Spaniard has, however, battled with confidence as her game has been slow in its return to form.

Following a much-needed week of practice and a mental reset of sorts, Munoz looked every bit like her 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year self on Friday – shooting a 6-under 65 to earn a share of the clubhouse lead at the NW Arkansas Championship.

Munoz shared the clubhouse lead with Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Lincicome, though Mi Jung Hur was 8 under through 14 holes when play was suspended because of darkness.

Hur birdied her final five holes, hitting all but one green in regulation at the rain-hampered Pinnacle Country Club.

For Munoz, the round was her best in her seven tournaments following surgery.

“Last week, I finally said `This is it, it’s not going to happen again,'” Munoz said. “… I know I’m a good golfer, so eventually it’s going to come. Obviously, it’s going to take a little bit of time, but I know it’s going to come back.”

Friday’s round was delayed twice by strong storms and lightning, and 21 groups were unable to finish.

Lincicome and Nordqvist also shot 65s, and Na Yeon Choi also was 6 under after 14 holes. Ryann O’Toole finished with a 66, and Mariajo Uribe and Gerina Piller also were 5 under.

Top-ranked Inbee Park had a 69, and defending champion and local favorite Stacy Lewis was 4 under with three holes left.

While Park, who won her sixth major two weeks ago at the Women’s PGA Championship, struggled with her putter – needing 30 putts – Munoz needed only 27 putts.

It was her best round since taking six weeks off after surgery in March, after which she hasn’t finished higher than 30th. Prior to her surgery, Munoz finished no lower than 13th in her first four tournaments this year.

“It’s been a rough year; I was not having fun,” Munoz said. “This sounds stupid, but I almost felt that I was really unlucky that this happened to me … (It) was just six weeks, but for some reason I still go really down on myself.”

With her hand nearly feeling completely recovered on Friday following a setback-free week of practice, Munoz was at her best despite being delayed by almost four hours because of two weather delays. She was even par after a bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, but followed that with three straight birdies to close out the front nine.

Munoz then birdied three of her first five holes on the back nine to reach 6 under, nearly reaching 7 under when her 35-foot birdie attempt on the par-3 15th lipped out of the hole.

“It felt good, back to normal,” Munoz said.

Lincicome used three sand saves to help propel her to a bogey-free 65, while Nordqvist hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation while also posting a bogey-free round.

Lincicome reached 6 under following birdies on the seventh and eighth holes after beginning her round on the back nine, and her 15-foot birdie attempt which would have sent her to 7 under on the 9th came up inches short.

“Right when I hit it, I knew it wasn’t enough,” Lincicome said. “Especially when it’s on line, it’s kind of a bummer, but just happy to be finally done with the round.”

Canadian Rebecca Lee-Bentham posted a 2-under round of 69 today, while Alena Sharp shot 72. Sue Kim signed for a round of 74 and Jennifer Kirby shot 79.

Coquitlam, B.C. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced that defending champion So Yeon Ryu will headline a list of seven past champions who have confirmed their intention to challenge for the US$2.25 million purse at the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Currently ranked No. 7 on the Rolex World Ranking, Ryu played near flawless golf last August at the London Hunt and Country Club to capture the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. A three-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Ryu’s 23-under tournament total in 2014 set a new event scoring record in relation to par.

Also confirming her intention to compete for Canada’s National Women’s Open title will be two-time champion Lydia Ko (2012 & 2013), the current World No. 2 who made history at The Vancouver Golf Club in 2012 when she captured her first LPGA Tour victory as a 15-year old amateur.

In addition to Ryu (2014) and Ko (2012 & 2013), other past champions set to compete include World No. 5 Suzann Pettersen (2009), World No. 8 Brittany Lincicome (2011), World No. 12 Cristie Kerr (2006), World No. 14 Michelle Wie (2010) and Katherine Hull (2008).

“We’re two months away from the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and we are very pleased with how our field is coming together,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director, Brent McLaughlin. “We are fortunate to have a terrific history of champions and I know it will be especially exciting for Vancouver golf fans to welcome Lydia Ko back to The Vancouver Golf Club for the first time since her amazing win in 2012.”

Golf Canada also confirmed that 17-year old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has been granted an exemption to compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.  Henderson, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad and currently the No. 51 ranked player in the world, will be making her fourth consecutive appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. In her first year as a professional, the former World No. 1 ranked amateur has amassed $317,470 in LPGA earnings including $132,725 for her tie for 5^th finish this past weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Brooke Henderson (David Cannon/ Getty Images)

“Brooke has had an outstanding start to her pro career and it comes as no surprise that she has earned an exemption to compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open for the fourth time,” said McLaughlin.  “She’s a special player and a terrific ambassador for Canadian golf and I’m sure she’ll be fan favourite once again at The Vancouver Golf Club.”

Henderson will lead a Canadian contingent that also includes four-time LPGA Tour winner and Canadian Pacific ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown as well as LPGA Tour players Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto.

Additional Canadian and international exemptions into the National Women’s Open Championship will be announced in the coming weeks. A field of 156 competitors will vie for the  US$2.25 million purse when the CP Women’s Open makes its return to The Vancouver Golf Club.

Community Impact…

The 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is proud to support BC Children’s Hospital as the 2015 charity beneficiary of this year’s event.

Funds raised this year will be dedicated to the pediatric cardiology research program.

As part of its community investment program CP Has Heart, CP is matching all online donations through www.bcchf.ca/cphasheart until August 23. Fan and player favourite, Birdies for Heart, also returns this year with CP committed to donating $5,000 for every birdie made on the 17th hole. In 2014, Birdies for Heart raised more than $320,000 for charity during tournament week.

Free Admission for Juniors…

Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17 and under. In addition to free admission for juniors, parents can take advantage of discounted tickets by visiting www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets and using promo code “junior”.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Lorie Kane is primed for a busy summer on home soil.

The Charlottetown golfer will compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club in August, but before that she will represent her country at next month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto.

“I’ve been joking that I might be the oldest chick in the (athletes’) village,” said the 50-year-old Kane. “I get excited when the Olympics roll around, be it winter or summer. We as Canadians, that’s what we learn to watch.

“Now to have an opportunity to be a part of that, it’s going to be really exciting.”

At the Pan Ams, Kane will team up with Brooke Henderson, the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., who tied for fifth this past weekend at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and has been making waves in the golf world.

“We have one goal and that is to win as many medals as we possibly can first and foremost,” Kane said after Monday’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open media event. “Brooke and I will do the best to represent the best we can.”

Kane has made just two starts this season, missing both cuts, but was encouraged by her performance at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Ont., earlier this month.

“It may shock people if I say that (my game is) probably the best its been,” said Kane. “People judge by results and I do too, but I saw a lot of good things happen at Manulife. I just need to get into some more tournaments. Unfortunately my (ranking) isn’t great, but we will get some tournaments coming up here.”

Apart from the thrill of trying to win a medal for her country, Kane said that playing at the Pan Ams will hopefully get her in good form heading to the national championship at Vancouver Golf Club.

“The Pan Ams will be great for me,” she said. “That will be four rounds that I can play and really test things and see how I’m doing. I’d like to be peaking in August. I really think I can still challenge to win and that’s my ultimate goal.”

Kane has earned nearly US$7 million in her career, but has not won an LPGA event since 2001. She has been amazed at the rise of players like Henderson and 18-year-old Lydia Ko, who won the Canadian title in 2012 as an amateur at Vancouver Golf Club and will return in 2015.

Ko also won the 2013 Canadian title at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton.

“You can’t hold them back,” said Kane. “They’re old beyond their days. Ya they have no fear, but they’re very tactical in what they do and how they play the game.

“The tour is so deep that any player can win on any given day.”

VANCOUVER – Canadian Pacific (CP), Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour announced today that CP has extended its title sponsorship of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for an additional two years, through 2018. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As title sponsor of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, CP is committed to raising charitable dollars in the event’s host community through the CP Has Heart campaign in support of children’s heart health. Extending its title sponsorship through 2018 will allow CP to increase its charitable support of children’s heart health in the name of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“CP is proud to extend its partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and looks forward to continuing to make a difference in the host communities across the country,” said CP’s CEO E. Hunter Harrison. “Our support of the National Women’s Open has become a cornerstone of our community investment program, CP Has Heart, through which we have assisted a number of heart healthy programs from coast-to-coast.”

CP assumed title sponsorship of Canada’s National Women’s Open in November, 2013 with the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open conducted at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. in 2014. This year’s 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will be played August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club while the 2016 event will return to the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary.

“On behalf of Golf Canada, the LPGA Tour and Canadian golf fans from coast to coast, I want to thank CP, and especially CEO Hunter Harrison, for continuing to align their respected brand with our National Women’s Open Golf Championship,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “CP has become a driving force in supporting Canadian golf and we are thrilled to continue our partnership on the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open through 2018.”

In addition to its title sponsorship of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, CP has also partnered with Golf Canada in support of the National Amateur Team program – Team Canada – as well as Canada’s National Amateur Championships.  As part of its investment in Canadian golf, CP has also aligned its brand with the Golf Canada Foundation in becoming a Founding Partner of the

Team Canada Young Pro program which launched in 2014 and currently support six of Canada’s top up and coming professionals.

The $2.25 million USD Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is a premier event on the LPGA Tour schedule which draws arguably the strongest field on the Tour.

“For our players, this championship has become a must-play event with great hospitality as well as great history,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.  “Our success is based on partnerships and I’d like to congratulate both Canadian Pacific and Golf Canada on this two year title sponsorship extension.  With CP’s help, we’re proud to continue showcasing the LPGA Tour to millions of golf fans in Canada, across North American and around the world.”

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

HARRISON, N.Y.  – Inbee Park won her third consecutive Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday – and accomplished a whole lot more.

Park also regained the No. 1 ranking in the word, surpassed idol Se Ri Pak for the most majors by a South Korean player with six, tied the LPGA Tour record for the lowest score in a major in relation to par at 19 under and, in her own mind, cemented a place in women’s golf history.

“Obviously, putting my name alongside like Annika Sorenstam or Patty Berg, legends of golf, just being a part of history of this golf tournament, I feel extremely honored, and I can’t believe that I just did it,” Park said.

The 26-year-old Park closed with a bogey-free 5-under 68 at Westchester Country Club, finishing the season’s second major five strokes ahead of 22-year-old compatriot Sei Young Kim. Park had 22 birdies and only three bogeys in 72 holes.

“I played great the last three days,” she said. “I couldn’t believe myself. I made no bogeys for three days.”

Park and Sorenstam (2003-2005) are only players to win the event previously called the LPGA Championship three consecutive years. It also was Park’s fifth victory in the last 12 majors.

Park won the previous two years in playoffs in Pittsford, New York, taking the 2013 event at Locust Hill and the 2014 tournament at Monroe Golf Club.

Park birdied the par-5 final hole. She chipped her third shot to 5 feet, then sank the putt and threw her arms in the air as a fan yelled “Three-peat!”

It was her 56th consecutive hole without a bogey.

Kim, a two-time winner this season as a rookie, started the day two strokes back. She bogeyed the third and the fourth holes, then reeled off four consecutive birdies, holing a long putt on the eighth to pull within a shot of the lead.

That was as close as she would get.

A three-stroke swing on the ninth hole put Park in charge. She made a birdie putt, then watched as Kim three-putted for double bogey. Kim finished with a 71.

“Everything fell apart at the ninth hole,” Kim said through an interpreter.

Lexi Thompson was third at 12 under after a 66. She had eight birdies on her first 13 holes.

Thompson pulled within two strokes with her birdie on the 13th. But she missed a chance on the par-5 15th hole, hitting her tee shot well right and scrambled to make par. She then bogeyed the 16th to end her chances.

“(I) just take a lot of positives from it knowing that I can pull off a round on Sunday here,” Thompson said. “It means a lot and I’m going to take a lot of confidence going into my upcoming tournaments.”

Brittany Lincicome, the winner of the first major of the year at the ANA Inspiration, finished fourth at 11 under. She birdied the final hole for a 68.

Seventeen-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson tied for fifth with Morgan Pressel at 10 under. Her $132,725 check will help in Henderson’s bid to earn a tour card for next year. She needs to either win a tournament or finish with the equivalent of the 40th player on the money list to avoid qualifying school after being denied an age exemption.

Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp signed for a final round 76 to finish tied for 65th.

The shot of the day came from Hyo Joo Kim with a hole-in-one on the 149-yard 14th hole. She finished with a 71 to tie for ninth at 8 under.

With No. 1 Lydia Ko missing the cut for the first time in 54 tries, No. 2 Park needed to finish just 29th or better to retake the top spot she last held in February. It will be her third stay at the top of the rankings. She was to the No. 1 for 59 weeks in 2013.

Park earned $525,000 for her third LPGA Tour victory of the season and 15th overall.

She joined Sorenstam, Pak, Patty Sheehan, Nancy Lopez, Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright as the only players to win the event at least three times. Wright won it four times.

“I think I always dreamed myself being a part of history, leaving my name, even before I die, there is my name on this trophy” Park said. “There’s a name on the U.S. Open trophy. There’s my name on great championships.”