Masson began the last round of the Manulife LPGA Classic at 11 under, which had her tied fifth and three shots off the lead held by Mi Hyang Lee. After one hole of her closing round Masson was five shots back after she double-bogied but she stuck to her game plan and clawed her way back.

She birdied the next three holes on her way to a nine-birdie romp that culminated in a closing five under 67 and was enough to celebrate her first LPGA Tour victory by a single shot.

Caroline Masson stripes her drive down the 18th fairway. PHOTO: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

“It’s hard to believe, it really is,” the 27-year-old said of her first LPGA win. “Obviously I was in a good position coming into today and I was thinking if I could shoot a really good round I might have a chance but I was totally not expecting it after getting off to that really bad start.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

“From then on I just told myself there was no pressure to win or do anything, just keep making birdies and that’s what I did all day.”

It seemed like with every birdie snared she moved past another more fancied, more highly world ranked player. Those left in her wake included Ariya Jutanugarn (T5), World No.1 Lydia Ko (T5) and Suzann Pettersen (T5).

Mi Hyang Lee (71), France’s Karine Icher (66) and West Australian Minjee Lee (68) all finished tied for second, one shot out of a play-off with Masson.

Minjee Lee looked likely to add to her two career victories, as she carded four birdies on the outward nine to be the first to reach 15 under. But her run at the title stalled on the back nine as she made nine consecutive pars.

Minjee Lee fell short of making the nine back nine birdie she required to force a play-off. PHOTO: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

“I started off well, I was four-under through the first nine, but I guess I couldn't quite get it done and Caroline was one shot ahead of us,” Lee said. “Yeah, I missed a couple of putts, and they just didn't drop. So I guess that's what it is, and next event is Evian, so I think I can go one better.

"She was making a lot of birdies … I knew it was going to be pretty close. She played great."

Two late bogies snuffed out Jutanugarn’s bid to win three consecutive events for the second time this season.