Becky Morgan masters San Diego Country Club, wins U.S. Senior Women’s Open

CHULA VISTA  — Becky Morgan of Wales ran away with the U.S. Senior Women’s Open on Sunday, closing with a 3-under 70 for a six-stroke victory over Juli Inkster at San Diego Country Club.

Morgan finished with a 7-under 285 over four rounds. The former LPGA and Ladies European Tour winner made her first start in the event after turning 50 in September.

“I feel like I’ve been close a lot and haven’t pulled it off,” Morgan said. “This was really nice. … It’s just getting it over the line, I think. I think just getting it over the line is unbelievable because I haven’t done it very much. I probably should have but didn’t.”

Morgan told her caddie, Beth Allen, that she wasn’t going to look at Sunday’s leaderboard until she needed to. She managed to hold off for 17 holes.

“I was debating my shot into 18, and I said, ‘Beth, what’s the score?’ and she said, ‘You have a six-shot lead.’ I said, OK, we’re going for it. But I just stayed really calm all day, holed some really good putts, and can’t quite believe it, to be honest.

“Yeah, I would not have dreamt this. Since I started playing on the sort of Senior Tour, I’ve had some decent success, but obviously nothing like this. Yeah, it’s absolutely unbelievable.”

The 65-year-old Inkster shot a 71. Liselotte Neumann was third at even par after a 74. Maria McBride and Corina Kelepouris, tied with Morgan for the third-round lead, each shot 78 to tie for fourth at 1 over with 2024 winner Leta Lindley (73).

First-round leader Annika Sorenstam tied for eighth at 3 over after a 72.

The Senior Women’s Open marked a return to major women’s golf events for San Diego Country Club, which previously hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1964 and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in both 1993 and 2017. The club was home to Mickey Wright, who won her record fourth U.S. Open title there in 1964, and famed men’s golfer Billy Casper.

U-T sports editor Ryan Finley contributed to this story.