EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France - Japan's Akie Iwai vied for her first major title on the LPGA Tour until the final hole but fell a stroke short of making the playoff and finished third at the Evian Open on Sunday.
Beginning the final round three shots off the pace, Iwai shot a 2-under par 69 at Evian Resort Golf Club in France to finish with an 18-under total of 266, one shy of South Korea's eventual winner Ryu Hae Ran and Canada's Brooke Henderson.
Iwai was tied for the lead heading to the 18th and final hole, and while Ryu got her first birdie of the day, Iwai could not add to her five birdies for the round, during which she bounced back from a bogey on the first hole and a double bogey on the third.
"I was confident with my putts during the round. The luck was not on my side at the end," said a tearful Iwai, who was cheered on by her twin sister Chisato, who missed the cut.
"I'm pleased to have vied for the title for the first time at a major. I can definitely make use of it going forward."
Henderson had a hole-in-one on the eighth and got her third eagle of the day on the 18th to force a playoff, but Ryu prevailed on the first playoff hole to secure her second straight major after also claiming the Women's PGA Championship two weeks ago.
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Mao Saigo finished in a three-way tie for fourth along with South Korea's Im Jin Hee.
