The Mexican finished her big run with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th at Highland Meadow on Sunday, setting off a series of fist pumps, knowing it would keep her one shot ahead of Megan Khang.

All that was left for the 28-year-old was to see if anyone could catch her.

No-one came particularly close, and Lopez had her third career LPGA Tour victory, and her first since the Tournament of Champions to start the 2020 season.

"I knew I had to make it because Megan was going to make hers," Lopez said. "I practice exactly for this moment. We got the job done."

Khang, who shot 29 on the front on a rain-softened course, closed with a 64.

Lucy Li, the 19-year-old Californian who started the final round with a one-shot lead, struggled to make birdies.

Her hopes effectively ended when she hit into a fairway bunker on the 16th hole, played well short of the green and missed a five-foot par putt. Li birdied the 18th hole for a 70 and tied for fourth.

RIGHT: Hannah Green was the best of the Aussies in a tie for 10th at the Dana Open. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

The start of the final round had a feel of a battle of prodigies – Lexi Thompson qualified for the U.S. Women's Open in 2007 when she was 12, and then Li broke her record in 2014 by qualifying at 11.

They were in the final group, along with Caroline Masson of Germany – but in the end, none was really a factor.

Thompson closed with a 73 and tied for 16th, seven shots behind.

Li had one birdie and 14 pars, as Lopez and Khang took over.

Masson birdied that last two holes for a 68 to finish alone in third.

For Lopez, it was a matter of not trying to think too much about every shot, every result, and put her in a comfortable frame of mind on a wild day in which she had 10 players ahead of her at the start.

"This is going to sound crazy, but today felt more like a Friday round," Lopez said. "Having that quiet is what we're working on, and it has paid off."

"If you keep it in the present, that's when magic happens." - Gaby Lopez.

She was two shots behind and missed six-foot birdie chances on the 9th and 11th – but she never lost focus.

"Doubts come into your mind," Lopez said.

"But my caddie said, 'We just keep doing what we're doing. It's definitely working, and we're going to commit to that the last hole and see what happens.'

"If you keep it in the present, that's when magic happens."

Hannah Green closed with a Sunday 69 to finish in a share of 10th at 13-under, the West Aussie the best of the Australian contingent and surely ruing an opening 74 that she beat by 12 shots the following day.

Steph Kyriacou finished in a tie for 45th, while Minjee T49 a shot further back at six-under.