Maja Stark Becomes Rolex First Time Winner at ISPS Handa World Invitational

It was a spectacular comeback. Stepping to the first tee in the penultimate women’s grouping at the ISPS Handa World Invitational, Maja Stark started the day two strokes back of 54-hole leader Amanda Doherty. By Sunday’s finish, Stark had carded a remarkable 10-under 63, a new career-low, en route to a five-stroke victory at -20, a tournament record. The 22-year-old went on to accept immediate LPGA Tour Membership, making her 500 Race to the CME Globe points and winnings official as she becomes the newest rookie on Tour.

“It means the world. That was all I came here for. Like I just wanted that winner's category. I was so nervous. I hate qualifying. It's great that I don't have to do that again,” said Stark. “I'm just relieved. I think, yeah, it hasn't settled yet. Yeah, just super, super happy. Finally I can play on the LPGA and that's where I want to be.”

Stark’s bogey-free round started with six birdies in her first nine holes, and she made the turn with a three-stroke lead over the rest of the field. Four birdies, including three consecutive on Nos. 12-14, sealed the deal, as she tied the lowest final round by par by a winner this season, also done by Ayaka Furue at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. She played the last 30 holes in Northern Ireland -15 – one eagle, 13 birdies and no bogeys – and tied the largest margin of victory this season on Tour.

“I tried to not watch the leaderboards. I usually do, but now I just thought, well, that's not going to help me, so I tried to not look at them. Then I think I caught a glimpse of one on 13 and I was like oh, I'm leading,” said Stark. “But it was still pretty tight at the top, and then I tried to not look at it. Then I walked up on 17 green and I saw that I was leading by five and then I thought, whoa, this is nice.”

Finishing in solo second at -15 was Allisen Corpuz, a new career-best finish on Tour and second top-10 result this season. Playing alongside Stark, her 5-under 68 included two birdies in her final two holes, which helped separate herself from the field. “Tough to beat 10-under par. But it was really awesome to play with Maja and just see how well she played, and yeah, be able to play a really good weekend, as well, for myself,” said Corpuz, “It was really just seeing some really good putts roll today, and finally kind of figuring out a couple of things in my swing, I think. Just going to go home and work hard and see if I can do one better.”

Georgia Hall finished third after a second-straight 70 on the par-73 Galgorm course to net out at -14 overall, and earn her best result on Tour since a tie for second at the AIG Women’s Open in 2021. Tour rookie Linn Grant, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Peiyun Chien ended tied for fourth at -13, with Grant on hand to celebrate her best friend’s win once play concluded.

“I feel energy-wise I'm all right. I'm just going to continue. Thank God Maja is not playing next week so I can finally get -- no, I'm just kidding,” joked Grant, who is set to play in next week’s Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande. “Yeah, hopefully play better.”

Rose Ladies Series winner Liz Young finished solo 7th at -12, her best finish on the Ladies European Tour since 2015, with Lauren Stephenson and Amanda Doherty taking home a tie for eighth at -11. Stephenson shot a final-round 66 for the second-lowest round of the week behind Stark. Doherty, who started the day at -12, shot a 1-over 74. The Epson Tour graduate was at -14 at the turn and went on to par the next seven holes, but it was a double bogey-bogey finish on Nos. 17 and 18 which became the undoing for Doherty in the final moments.

“It was good overall. Frustrated with the way it ended, but it was a good learning experience,” said Doherty. “Honestly I think it's just kind of getting yourself in that situation. Like you don't get better at anything if you don't practice, so you've just got to be there to experience it. Hard to put into words.”

Ireland’s own and LPGA Tour winner Leona Maguire recovered after a third round 76 with a 5-under 68 on the final day to finish in solo 10^th, making it her fifth top-10 result of the 2022, including her win at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony this past February. 

“I didn't really have any "A" game this week, so squeezed a bit out of it in the end and always nice to finish with a good round on Sunday,” said Maguire. “I think last week [at the AIG Women’s Open] took a lot out of me. I was probably a bit tired coming into this week and not ideal prep with the two courses and not a lot of rest. Stayed relatively patient. Let yesterday get away from me, got a bit frustrated yesterday, but yeah, overall it's a solid week.”