California native Lilia Vu trailed leader Emily Kristine Pedersen by three strokes going into the final round of The Annika. Vu entered the round with a mindset of having nothing to lose and ended up winning, shooting 4-under 66 at Pelican Golf Club to finish at 19-under 261.
“I think usually when I go into Sunday, I feel like I haven’t won the tournaments yet,” Vu said. “So there’s really nothing to lose, and I was just going to go out there and try and make a bunch of birdies. But (Sunday) it was a little harder, so I did my best with what I had.”
Vu finished three shots ahead of Alison Lee and Azahara Munoz. With five birdies and just one bogey, Vu claimed the $487,500 first prize and now has $3,252,303 in earnings for the season, as well as two major championships – The Chevron Championship and the British Women’s Open, and the LPGA Thailand.
Boutier missed the cut this weekend, putting her neck and neck with Vu for the points-based player of the year award.
For Vu, The Annika ranks alongside her first major win, at the Chevron in April at The Woodlands, Texas. “I think I want more wins in America, and to add this one to my results has been really great,” she said. “And to be (in World Golf Hall of Famer) Annika (Sorenstam’s) event is just amazing.”
Sorenstam, for whom the former Pelican Women’s Championship was renamed, sees a great future for Vu, 26. “There’s no weaknesses,” Sorenstam said. “I’ve watched her grow into a great golfer and a great young lady. She has the passion; she has the heart. She also has two majors this year; that’s not too shabby.”
Vu is having a comeback season after struggling in her first season on the tour in 2019. She spent 2019 and 2020 on the developmental Epson Tour and now has found success by approaching her game with a better mindset.
Vu’s ability to handle pressure was on display early Sunday. She birdied the third, fourth, and sixth holes to pull into a tie with Pedersen, who ended up with two bogeys and a double bogey.
Vu saw her real victory as her ability to correct her mindset early on the back nine. She credited caddie Cole Pensanti with helping snap her out of some negative thinking after making a bogey on the par-3 12th. “I missed a little 4-footer and teed off on 13 and miss-hit my drive,” Vu said. “I was 40 yards behind everyone, and I didn’t like my first shot on, and I was a little ‘soggy diapers’ about that. (Pensanti) definitely knew, and he hates it when I get like that. But he said the right thing from it, and it worked out.”
Vu also jokingly credited her success to the steaks at Texas Roadhouse, calling 2023 “phenomenal for me, more than I expected.”
“And then from before, just being on the Epson Tour and just thinking about not even playing anymore, I think I’m glad I didn’t give up, and I’m here now.” South Korea’s Amy Yang finished four shots back. With Pedersen at 14 under was Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia. Two-time defending champion Nelly Korda shot 70 and was in a group at 8 under. Contact Kristie Ackert at [email protected].
Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.