Marina got the W. She won the Palos Verdes Championship for her second LPGA Tour title, taking the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5, 16th hole and parring the final two holes for a one-stroke victory over Jin Young Ko.
“The hard work has paid off,” said Marina, who recently fought a herniated disk in her lower back. “I wasn’t sure if this would ever happen again and if I’m being perfectly honest. It’s been tough. We’re all getting older. I’m getting older. There are so many amazing players out here. I just didn’t know if my mind and body were going to put me back in a position that I was going to be able to do it again. Today was the day.”
Coming back from three strokes behind Hannah Green entering the final round, Marina closed with an impressive 5-under 66 to finish at 10-under 274 at the hilly and windy Palos Verdes Golf Club.
“We are so happy for Marina,” said Chapter President Bobby Hendel. “She has been a great asset to our chapter helping in so many ways. An important life skill that we teach is perseverance, which embodies everything Marina has been through to earn this victory.”