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Post by Admin on Aug 6, 2019 7:30:31 GMT
Japan's Hinako Shibuno birdied the last hole to clinch a stunning win in the Women's British Open at Woburn. Shibuno, 20, led by two shots overnight but was soon caught by USA's Lizette Salas in a thrilling final round. Salas fired the week's lowest round - a seven-under-par 65 - but Shibuno had five birdies on the back nine to win by one shot in her first major. England's Charley Hull and Bronte Law slipped out of contention with rounds of four and six over respectively.  Salas finished on 17 under and was practising putts before a potential play-off as Shibuno approached the 18th green, waving and smiling to both sides of the fairway. And the rookie, not only playing in her first major but also appearing outside Japan for the first time, showed no signs of nerves as she struck a firm 18ft putt, which hit the back of the hole and just about dropped to secure victory. |
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Post by Admin on Aug 6, 2019 19:34:56 GMT
 The stunning rise of the 'smiling Cinderella' Shibuno was in second place after days one and two at Woburn but it was on Saturday, when she moved into the lead during the back nine, that people really started to take notice of the Japanese rookie and wanted to know more.  At the turn of the year she was ranked 559 in the world and shot up the rankings after two wins on the LPGA of Japan Tour, where she is known as the "smiling Cinderella". It was easy to see why as Shibuno high-fived fans and posed for selfies before, during and after her rounds. Even as the tournament reached its climax, she ate sweets and joked with her caddie up the 17th and 18th fairways. Then there is her manager, Hiroshi Shigematsu, who "dresses up to make her smile". On Saturday, he wore a Samurai warrior outfit with a blue wig and a plastic sword. The wig remained on Sunday, only this time he was wearing a clown mask.  Then after clinching a popular victory at Woburn, becoming only the second Japanese player to win a major championship after Chako Higuchi at the 1977 Women's PGA Championship, Shibuno giggled while reading a pre-prepared acceptance speech in English.  |
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Post by Admin on Aug 16, 2019 18:34:54 GMT
GETTING TO KNOW HINAKO SHIBUNO The last two days have been quite a debut on the international golf stage for Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, who sits second at -9, three strokes behind leader Ashleigh Buhai. The 20-year-old native of Okayama Prefecture (on the southern end of Honshu Island) is in her rookie year on the JLPGA Tour, having spent 2018 on its developmental Step Up Tour. In May, she won the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, a major on the JLPGA Tour, and added a second victory in July at the Shiseido Anessa Ladies Open.  The AIG Women’s British Open marks Shibuno’s first time competing outside her native country. She admitted to assuming that Woburn Golf Club was a links course, although the parkland layout has certainly suited her game. Shibuno has made easy work of Woburn while using an interesting swing that sees her turn her double-jointed arms nearly fully around. She proudly displayed this anatomical feat to the assembled media after her round and flashed a brilliant smile while sharing her very appropriate Japanese nickname. “They call me Smiling Cinderella. I'm always smiling.” |
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