Maja Stark claims maiden LPGA win at ISPS Handa, Ewen Ferguson wins men’s event

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland — Maja Stark of Sweden closed with a 10-under 63 on Sunday and won the ISPS Handa World Invitational for her third victory this year on the Ladies European Tour, and this one with an additional perk.

The tournament is co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour, giving the former Oklahoma State star access to join the LPGA.

Stark started the final round two shots behind Amanda Doherty and quickly seized control with a 31 on the front nine at Galgorm Castle. She had nine birdies through 14 holes and turned a tight race into a rout.

Stark finished at 20-under 271, five shots clear of Allisen Corpuz, who closed with a 68.

Full-field scores from the ISPS Handa World Invitational

The tournament was held at Galgorm Castle and Massereene, played concurrently with an official DP World Tour event. The men and women competed separately but for the same prize fund, with Stark collecting a career-high $225,000 from the $1.5 million purse.

Stark won two times on the LET late last year. She was runner-up (and low female) in the Asian Mixed Stableford, and then captured the Women’s New South Wales Open and the Amundi German Masters.

The 22-year-old Swede had the option of taking immediate LPGA membership or waiting until 2023 for her rookie year. The LPGA Tour has nine tournaments left on its schedule before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in November.

With the event co-sanctioned by the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and the DP World Tour, Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson took home the victory on the men’s side at 12 under. Spain’s Borja Virto and Scotland’s Connor Syme were runner-ups at 9 under.