Birthday girl, Alexa Pano, wins ISPS Handa Invitational

Co Antrim, Northern Ireland: A birthday to remember for Alexa Pano as she won the ISPS HANDA World Invitational Presented by AVIV Clinics in a dramatic playoff.

After rounds of 76-70-69-66, Pano ended the tournament with a total of eight-under-par and found herself in a playoff alongside Germany’s Esther Henseleit and England’s Gabriella Cowley.

The American, who turned 19 on Sunday, and on the third playoff hole, Pano made the green in two and was able to two-putt for a birdie to win her maiden title on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET).

“I’ve kind of been saying that I really wanted to win this event because it’s on my birthday,” said the LPGA Tour rookie.

“My best friend can contest it’s been for like two months. It feels so surreal that it’s happened. It’s been a little bit crazy because I didn’t have my clothes and clubs earlier in the week, but it’s all worth it.

“It just feels so surreal right now to have my dad on the bag as well. I can’t actually process that that just happened.”

JA Resort ambassador, Olivia Cowan, had a final round 68 to finish in solo fifth spot.

This week’s event was tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with men’s and women’s tournaments played on the same courses at the same time for two equal prize funds of US$1.5million.

Englishman Dan Brown won his maiden DP World Tour victory by going wire-to-wire for a five-stroke victory over Alex Fitzpatrick.