Ariya Jutanugarn has become the first player to record her first three victories on the LPGA Tour in consecutive events, after storming away to a five-stroke triumph at the Volvik Championship.
Thailand's Jutanugarn closed with a five-under 67 at Travis Pointe on Sunday to finish well ahead of Christina Kim, who was five shots back after a final round 71.
Jessica Korda (72) and Canada's Brooke Henderson (68) tied for third at nine under, Minjee Lee the best of the Aussies in a tie for 20th at three-under after a final round two-over 74.
The 20-year-old Jutanugarn is the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three consecutive tournaments, but the first to do it for her first three wins - having been the first Thai winner in tour history three weeks ago in Alabama.
She followed that up last week with a victory in Virginia, but Jutanugarn doesn't plan to play the next event in New Jersey - where she would have had a shot to become the first since Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to win four scheduled tournaments in a row.
"I just need rest right now," said Jutanugarn, who will have an opportunity to resume her run at the Women's PGA Championship in two weeks.
A year ago, Jutanugarn was mired in a slump in which she missed 10 straight cuts.
"Last year, I had chance to win a few tournaments, but I didn't know how to play with pressure," she said.
"This year, I know how to play under pressure."
Kim described Jutanugarn as a once-in-a-generation type talent.
"There really hasn't been a player like her in my generation," said Kim.
"The way she powers the ball, it's remarkable. And she has such imagination around the golf course and incredible touch."
Before the breakthrough winning streak, Jutanugarn was best known for a pair of final-round meltdowns.
Last month in the ANA Inspiration, she had a two-stroke lead with three holes left and closed with three bogeys to finish fourth, while she blew a two-stroke lead with a closing triple bogey in a one-stroke loss to Park at the 2013 LPGA Thailand.
Lightning in the area led to a 50-minute rain delay towards the end of Jutanugarn's front nine, before she pulled away from the field with birdies at No.13, 14 and 16 to earn a five-shot cushion at 14-under.
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