Sweden’s Maja Stark holds off Nelly Korda to win first primary at US Women’s Open

Maja Stark has gained tournaments all over the world, however a certified victory within the United States eluded her. Now she is a US Women’s Open champion.

The Swede shot an even-par 72 to win the second one primary of the 12 months via two photographs on Sunday at Erin Hills. Stark led the championship via one stroke thru 54 holes and outlasted the World No 1, Nelly Korda, who were given inside of a shot of the lead prior to really fizzling out at the again 9.

Stark posted a seven-under-par 281 for the week. Korda (71) tied for 2d with Japan’s Rio Takeda (72) at 5 below, and South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin posted a 68 for a proportion of fourth position at 4 below with countrywoman Mao Saigo (73) and China’s Yin Ruoning (70).

Korda had a two-under entrance 9 to get to 6 below for the championship. Stark used to be conserving a one-stroke lead over Korda when she birdied the 11th. Korda bogeyed the par-three 13th and birdied the following hollow, however best after an eagle alternative slid via.

Stark made a two-putt birdie on the 14th to get to 9 below and had sufficient cushion to soak up bogeys on the tricky 17th and 18th, the place she overlooked every fairway.

The 25-year-old has six wins to her identify at the Ladies European Tour. One of the ones, the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland, used to be co-sanctioned via the LPGA and earned her a excursion card in 2022. Before Sunday, the spotlight of Stark’s minimum primary resume used to be striking 2d to Korda on the 2024 Chevron Championship. Korda got here up in need of a would-be 3rd primary victory. She earned her absolute best end at a US Women’s Open and her 3rd top-10.

Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain performed within the last pairing with Stark after capturing a 68 on Saturday. She struggled from the outset and completed one over for the development after a triple-bogey 8 at the last hollow destined her to a rating of 79.