With an incredible finish, Melissa (Mo) Martin won the Women’s British Open July 13, her first win on the LPGA Tour.
The Altadena-born golfer, who attended Alverno High School in Sierra Madre and played on UCLA’s 2004 national championship team, eagled the 18th hole in the final round at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. After hitting a three-wood second shot that struck the flagstick on the par-five hole, she then made her six-foot eagle putt, and finished one under par for the tournament with a closing 72, the best round on a windy final day.
Until then, Martin had never led in the tournament, but she claimed the championship when none of her closest pursuers could convert opportunities in their closing holes. Martin ended one shot in front of Shanshan Feng and Suzann Pettersen.
A 2005 UCLA graduate with a degree in psychology, the 31-year-old Martin previously won five times on the LPGA Futures Tour. This is her third season on the LPGA Tour.
