Golf

Leona Maguire records top-15 finish in Ohio as final round is cancelled

Nasa Hataoka declared the winner after heavy rain made the course unplayable

Leona Maguire tees off on the third hole during the third round of the Marathon LPGA Classic. Photo: Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mon Jul 12 2021 - 06:58

Leona Maguire had to settle for a tied-15th finish and a cheque for $25,099 at the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio after the LPGA Tour announced on Sunday that unplayable weather conditions forced them to shorten it to a 54-hole event.

After a Saturday 67 the Cavan golfer sat at nine under par with 18 holes to play but that turned out to be impossible as the LPGA initially moved up Sunday’s tee times with the weather forecast in mind. But play had to be suspended at 9:40 a.m. local time due to inclement weather.

Heavy rain kept players off the course for hours. Just after 3:30 p.m. local time, the LPGA media/communications department tweeted that the course was being evaluated while more rain fell.

“Course conditions have not improved at the @MarathonLPGA and it remains unplayable,” the LPGA finally tweeted at about 4 p.m. “Finishing the tournament tomorrow is not an option due to an unfavorable forecast. The tournament will be reduced to a 54 hole event with Nasa Hataoka as the winner!”

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Japan’s Hataoka was declared the winner on 19 under par through three rounds (61-69-64) at Highland Meadows Golf Club. She completed her third round six strokes ahead of two players in second place.

Hataoka, 22, led wire-to-wire to claim her first win since the Kia Classic in March 2019 and the fourth LPGA Tour win of her career.