By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: LPGA

Lauren Coughlin was drenched in joy as she finished off the last bottle of champagne on the 18th green of Earl Grey Golf Club on Sunday.

The late-blooming former Virginia golfer had been waiting a long time for this moment, and the 31-year-old was in no hurry. Coughlin had just finished capturing the CPKC Women’s Open and a $350,000 paycheck.

Coughlin won what used to be an LPGA major, stepping into the winner’s circle for the first time in her 101st career start. She’s come close several times before, including just two weeks ago when she fell short at the Amundi Evian Championship. Her five top-10 finishes this season include a tie for third at the Chevron Championship in mid-April.

On Sunday, she was undeterred, making a huge impression on the 195-yard, par-3 17th hole, known to Canadian fans as “The Rink.” It was a raucous atmosphere that Coughlin won’t soon forget.

She hit a 6-iron to 8 feet and made the birdie putt for a two-putt swing over Haeran Ryu, who missed a 3-foot par putt for a second straight bogey that put her two strokes behind Coughlin. The former Wahoo finished at 13-under 275, including a final-round, 1-under 71 and a champagne celebration she’ll never forget.

After her husband, former UVA football player John Pond, showered her with champagne, Lauren took a big sip.

“There wasn’t much left in the bottle, so I had to drink it all,” Coughlin laughed.

How sweet it is!

Enjoy it, @LCisHOOSgolfin 😊 photo.twitter.com/ljc7ZMgolM

— LPGA (@LPGA) July 29, 2024

During her press conference after the victory in the media tent, she let her achievement sink in for a moment.

“I think it’s really going to sink in when I call my parents here after I’m done with this,” she said. “It was incredible. And you know, I want to do it again.”

While Ryu struggled late in the round, Coughlin saw her nearest rival miss a putt on 17 to give her a two-stroke lead, which was confirmed by caddie Terry McNamara, who has split time on her bag with Pond this year. McNamara became a caddie legend when she carried Annika Sorenstam until 2005, but has been a huge help to Coughlin in recent months.

“Terry told me that (the two closest chasers) were both 11 under, so at that point my adrenaline was pumping,” Coughlin said. “My heart was racing, so I just took as many deep breaths as I could and just hit a 3-wood off the tee, because he knew I was in pretty good trouble. I was just trying to hit the fairway, hit the green, hit two putts and get out of there.”

Coughlin led the first two rounds, but began Sunday a stroke behind Ryu as they battled all day. It didn’t matter as she birdied her last four holes and watched the competition melt away around her.

For those who enjoy stories about athletes who never give up, Coughlin is for you. She returns to Charlottesville each spring to raise money for the local First Tee program, which she participated in while growing up in Eastern Virginia.

A star on the state amateur circuit and at UVA, Coughlin struggled mightily after turning pro, considering giving up, but something inside her wouldn’t let her quit. And her family, friends and other supporters wouldn’t let her stop pursuing her dream either.

“I think my story in general shows that I always try, I always will try to do things,” Coughlin said. “I’m willing to persevere. I don’t give up. I think I showed that perfectly today.”

She’s always been a good ball handler, but her putting skills have improved this year, making her a threat on the LPGA Tour. That puts her in position to make the U.S. team for the Solheim Cup in September, which will be played at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Northern Virginia, just an hour’s drive north of Charlottesville.

She had a lot of support from her home state and from the people who influenced her life and career, and they understood how she felt when she won her first victory on Sunday.

“You know, the people that believed in me from the beginning, that kept me going when I wanted to quit,” Coughlin said. “My parents, my husband, my coach, my college coach Kim Lewellen. I mean, I went to Kim’s office after my rookie year, I wanted to quit and she said it’s normal to feel this way, you’re not alone.

“That was in 2017, so those were the people I thought about, just grateful that I have a very, very small but good circle around me.”