Joo Su-bin, who surrendered a four-shot lead and finished tied for fourth, at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. [Photo=LPGA]
Joo Su-bin, who surrendered a four-shot lead and finished tied for fourth, at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. [Photo=LPGA]

South Korean golfer Joo Su-bin squandered a four-shot lead in the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic (purse: $2 million), finishing tied for fourth Sunday.

Playing at the Bay Course of Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey, Joo carded a 2-over-par 73 to finish at 6-under 207 for the tournament, sharing fourth place with Lee So-mi and Japan's Chiji Iwai.

Joo entered the final round four strokes clear of the field but struggled under the psychological weight of chasing her first LPGA title. She opened with a birdie on the first hole, then gave strokes back with bogeys on the par-4 fourth and eighth holes. A birdie on the par-5 ninth offered a brief reprieve, but a double bogey on the par-4 14th proved decisive, handing the lead away. After driving into deep rough, she needed four shots to reach the green and two-putted for a costly six.

Despite the disappointment, Joo struck an upbeat tone after the round. "It was really fun," she said. "It was my first time leading a tournament, and I think I gave everything I had out there. I prepared well and I'm very proud of myself. More opportunities will come."

Celine Boutier of France fired a 5-under 66 to win at 9-under 204, edging runner-up Apicha Ya Yubol of Thailand by one stroke and claiming the $300,000 (approximately 450 million won) winner's check. Boutier dropped just one shot — a bogey on the par-3 seventh — while collecting six birdies across the rest of her round.

The victory was Boutier's second at this event, following her 2021 title, and her seventh on tour overall. Five years ago, she also came from behind in the final round, shooting a 63 to overtake Canada's Brooke Henderson.

Runner-up Yubol had been assessed a slow-play penalty on the 13th hole during Saturday's round, a stroke that ultimately prevented her from forcing a playoff.

Irish rookie Lauren Walsh shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 7-under 206, earning a solo third-place finish — the best result of her career.


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