Brooke Henderson closed with a 7-under 64 a year ago in the ShopRite LPGA Classic and finished second.
The 24-year-old from Canada matched that final-round performance in the event this year, and she still had work to do. This time she got the job done Sunday after overcoming a 4-shot deficit.
Henderson eagled the first playoff hole to beat Lindsey Weaver-Wright for her 11th tour victory and first this year.
“I just was trying to go low and see what happens,” Henderson said. “I didn’t think — I mean, I thought the victory was a possibility, but there are a lot of really talented players ahead of me and I think I was 4 shots back starting the day.
“I knew it was going to take a little bit of magic, and I’m just really happy that I’m sitting here next to the trophy.”
The real magic was her second shot in the playoff on the par-5 No. 18 at the Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. She hit a 7-wood from 193 yards within 10 feet. She had used the same club to set up an eagle at No. 9 earlier in the day.
Weaver-Wright, a 28-year-old American still looking for her first tour win, forced the playoff with birdies on four of the last six holes, including a long one at No. 17 and a 10-footer at the par-5 final hole for a 65.
Weaver-Wright found the fairway in the playoff, but her second shot was short of the green. Her third shot landed around the same distance from the hole as Henderson’s, but she was away. She missed her birdie putt, and Henderson, ranked No. 11 in the world, had no pressure making the eagle to win to pocket $262,500.