"I just haven't had many chances to win in front of them. So to finally do it, it's so cool," Stanford said.

"I couldn't even look over at my mum coming up 18 because I was starting to get teary-eyed. I'm like, 'Just don't look over there, don't look over there.' I would have lost it."

The 43-year-old from Fort Worth won her seventh LPGA Tour title and first since the major Evian Championship in 2018. She finished at seven-under 277 at Old American Golf Club in the event that started in bone-chilling cold on Thursday.

Inbee Park, So Yeon Ryu and 19-year-old Yealimi Noh, tied for the third-round lead, each shot 70 to tie for second in the final tune-up before the US Women's Open next week at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

"I just love trying to get better. I think if you love what you're doing and you love your process and you just are loving getting better, then you have to keep going." – Angela Stanford

Su Oh (even) was the best-placed of the Australian contingent, tied for 11th after going two-under on Sunday. Sarah Kemp and Minjee Lee were a further two shots adrift.

Stanford pulled away with birdies on 13, 14, 16 and 17, and closed with a bogey.

"I really think it boils down to passion," Stanford said.

"I just love trying to get better. I think if you love what you're doing and you love your process and you just are loving getting better, then you have to keep going."

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Ryu was making her first US start since last year.

"I was quite nervous coming back, even though I played a few good events in Korea," Ryu said. "It was really great to be in contention."

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko was fifth at four-under after a 70 in her second LPGA Tour start of the year.

Anna Nordqvist (70) and Charley Hull (71) were three-under.