KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Heather Daly-Donofrio is happy she decided to play in the LPGA Betsy King Classic rather than withdraw on the eve of the tournament because of lower back pain.
Daly-Donofrio, in her fourth season on the tour, had five birdies Sunday for a 15-under 273 for her first career victory. Her previous best finish this season was 11th at the Rochester open in June.
Daly-Donofrio, 31, held off Mhiari McKay, who missed two short putts on the final two holes that could have forced a playoff. Daly-Donofrio, a Yale graduate and former golf coach there, parred the final two holes.
The finish came after she shot a career-low 65 Thursday and followed that with a 68 to fall two strokes behind leader Moira Dunn.
"Coming back the next day was big for me," Daly-Donofrio said. "I always thought I could win, but I didn't know if I knew how to win. But I felt pretty confident. It was a matter of some mental toughness."
McKay, who was tied with Daly-Donofrio at 15 under through 14 holes, missed a 10-foot par putt on No. 15 and took only her fourth bogey of the tournament.
McKay, who began the day 12 under, missed a 4-footer on No. 17 and a 3-footer on the final hole and finished at 274.
"Well, there will be a bad taste in my mouth," McKay said. "When I look back, it wasn't that bad of a day. I am happy with he way my game is progressing and I know I am heading in the right direction."
Dunn, who held the third-round lead at 14 under and was also seeking her first LPGA win, double-bogeyed the par-3 third. She then bogeyed No. 4 and double-bogeyed No. 9. But she also had birdies on Nos. 5, 7, and 8.
When Dunn knocked in a 12-footer to birdie 18, she tied McKay at 274. Dunn also had a second-place finish at the Wendy's Championship two weeks ago.
Catriona Matthew, the highest-ranked player in the field at fifth overall, finished at 13 under.
Mi Hyun Kim, who began the day nine strokes off the pace, set a course record on her front nine by shooting 29. Kim had a hole-in-one with a 5-wood on No. 3 and birdies on Nos. 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Host Betsy King and defending champion Michele Redman both finished at 7-under 281.
With the win, Daly-Donofrio moved into 19th place in the Solheim Cup Standings with 20 points. Redman moved into fifth place (54.5) with Pat Hurst eighth (42.75) and Mallon (40) ninth.
Daly-Donofrio collected a winner's purse of $120,000 from the total prize money of $800,000.