'FORCE' PROPELS FURUE TO VICTORY

Japanese eagles last hole to seal first Major title with one-stroke win over Kyriacou

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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France Japanese golfer Ayaka Furue suffered heartbreak in June when she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, but she also found inspiration from that famous phrase from the Star Wars movie, "May the force be with you".

On July 14, the 24-year-old turned disappointment into delight, when she clinched the Evian Championship with an eagle on the 18th hole for her first Major title, which also landed her US$1.2 million (S$1.6 million) for her second career LPGA victory.

Carding birdies from holes No. 14 to No. 16, Furue then held her nerve in the final hole for the eagle. She erased a three-stroke deficit over the final five holes, with her six-under 65 giving her a 19-under 265 total.

This handed her a one-shot victory over Australia's third-round leader Stephanie Kyriacou (67).