Frida Kinhult earns LPGA card with Symetra Tour Championship win

Frida Kinhult is headed to the LPGA after her win at the Symetra Tour Championship.

Frida Kinhult was all smiles Friday afternoon at River Run Country Club for a few reasons.

First and most obvious, the 21-year-old won the Symetra Tour Championship by four shots after surviving some trouble on the back nine for her first career win on the tour. Most importantly, she earned her LPGA tour card and a U.S. Women’s Open invite with her win in Davidson, North Carolina.

The former No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings from Fiskebackskil, Sweden, shot rounds of 68-71-69-70 to finish the tournament at 10 under. Her final round began with four birdies on the front nine to lead by seven shots at the turn. Kinhult added another birdie on No. 10 to sit at 13 under overall, before a little bit of trouble began.

The former Florida State golfer carded bogeys on Nos. 12, 14 and 17. However, her performance through the event’s first 65 holes gave her some security.

Finishing in second, four shots behind Kinhult, was Demi Runas at 6 under. Runas shot a final-round 66 thanks to a hot start to her round with five birdies within the first six holes, and back-to-back birdies to finish.

Former Florida Gator Sierra Brooks finished third at 4 under. Laura Wearn finished in fourth at 2 under while Janie Jackson and 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabi Ruffels finished T-5 at 1 under.

The top 5 golfers on the 2020 Symetra Tour money list earned LPGA cards: Former Duke golfer Ana Belac; Fatima Fernandez Cano, who withdrew from the Symetra Tour finale after testing positive for COVID-19; Kim Kaufman; Kinhult; and Janie Jackson all finished Nos. 1-5 respectively on the 2020 Symetra Tour money list.