Maia Schechter wins Four Winds Invitational crown

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Maia Schechter had to sweat out the final hour, but ultimately held the trophy at the end of the Four Winds Invitational.

She shot six strokes under par on Sunday, with six birdies and zero bogeys en route to an 11-under overall finish.

"This whole weekend felt really solid," Schechter said after receiving her winning check for $22,500. "This golf course really fit my game and I felt like I had a really good game plan coming into it. Everyone on the Symetra Tour is trying to make it to the LPGA so this is a good step in the right direction."

After a third consecutive day of rain cause another delay, the field produced several golfers with a chance to win. Among them was Louise Stahle, who had been in contention since Friday's opening round.

She entered Sunday tied for the lead, but looked out of it after multiple bogeys early in her final round. Still, she managed two birdies on 16 and 17 to pull back within a stroke. However, her chance for another birdie on 18 went just left of the hole, and with it, her hopes of forcing a playoff for the win.

“[It was a] tough one today," said Stahle. "My bogeys kind of came on the rainy holes, so I didn’t really manage that well. But at least I fought in the end. It’s been a great week and I look forward to the next couple of weeks for sure.”

Stahle's overall score of 10-under earned a tie for second with Korea's Eun Jeong Seong, who turned in perhaps the most impressive performance of the day.

Seong shot the lowest score of the day at seven-under, and did so mostly in the driving rain before a delay was eventually called.

Many players said they felt the rain hampered their play, but Seong felt it helped her find a nice rhythm.

“It was wet, which made it easier because I had spin," she said of the conditions. "Last night, I thought I had to play seven-under. I focused on one shot, every shot. That was my key today."

While several players made a run at the win, it was Schechter's in the end.

"At the end of the day, you can't control what other people are doing," I thought I was going to be playing some more golf, to be honest. I was prepared for anything."

Though she was ready for the playoff, it didn't come.

And now, Maia Schechter will try to take this win into the rest of her season as she tries to make the LPGA Tour.

"The best way to win is to have a good game plan and really stay committed to that game plan," she said. "Obviously it's really helpful in boosting your confidence knowing you can do it and knowing you can play good golf."