American professional golfer Ally McDonald on Sunday celebrated her 28th birthday by winning her first LPGA title, capturing the Drive On Championship by one stroke over fellow American Danielle Kang, reported AFP.

McDonald, who is currently world number 62, fired a final-round three-under par 69 to finish 72 holes at Reynolds Lake Oconee on 16-under 272 for an extra-special birthday gift.

Before Sunday’s victory, her best LPGA finish was third at last year’s Shoprite Classic. She said, “It’s definitely towards the top that’s for sure. I’ve never doubted my ability but it’s really hard to win out here. I hung in there and I was really happy to get a win.”

Kang had trimmed her lead from four strokes to a single shot on the back nine but settled for second after shooting 68 to finish on 273. McDonald said, “It shook me up pretty bad. I had to gather myself up and get my heart rate under control.”

She added, “I knew Danielle was going to put the pedal to the metal. I told myself to calm down and do what I’ve been doing, follow my game plan and control what I can. I was happy to hang in there and pull it out — just the resilience I have.” 

22-year-old Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan, who is the world number 233 and LPGA driving distance leader in only her sixth professional start, shot 70 to finish third on 274 with American Mina Harigae and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda sharing fourth on 275.

Kang was originally supposed to be seeking a third consecutive LPGA crown in Shanghai this week before COVID-19 wiped out the event, leading to the creation of this week’s tournament.

After McDonald birdied the par-3 fourth and made the turn with a two-stroke lead over Pagdanganan and Kang, she sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the 10th to launch a run of three consecutive birdies that left her on 17-under with a four-stroke edge.

Kang rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the par-4 13th while McDonald missed a five-footer for par, her lead halved with five holes remaining. Kang then curled in a tricky downhill 12-foot birdie putt at the par-3 14th, reaching 15-under to pull within one with her third birdie in four holes.

Kang went over the green, pitched to five feet but missed her par putt and fell two back with three to play at 15, the course’s toughest hole for the week.

McDonald birdied the par-3 16th but missed a seven-foot par putt at the par-3 17th to keep the lead at two heading for the par-5 18th.

McDonald put her approach onto the green at the last and Kang lofted her eagle attempt so it barely missed the edge of the cup. She made birdie but McDonald two-putted for par and the win. Kang said, “I tried.”