Na Yeon Choi grabbed her first LPGA Tour victory at the Samsung World Championship with a birdie on the final hole to edge Ai Miyazato by one shot.
Choi seemed to be running away with the tournament after an eagle on the par-5, sixth hole, put the second-year LPGA player at 19-under par with a seven shot lead. But, three straight bogeys on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes cut Choi’s lead to one shot over Miyazato, who had made birdies on the seventh, eighth and 15th holes.
Choi made bogey on the 15th hole to fall into a tie for the lead. Miyazato pulled a shot ahead of Choi with a birdie on the 16th hole. But, a bogey on the final hole resulted in a two-shot swing as Choi finished strong with birdie to reclaim the lead and the win.
Jiyai Shin, who started the day in second place, uncharacteristicly struggled in the final round, never getting closer than two shots of the lead. Shin was one-over par through nine holes and, after carding birdie-bogey on the 11th and 12th holes, she finished with a double-bogey on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th.
Lorena Ochoa and Paula Creamer finished tied for fourth place at nine-under par. Sophie Gustafson took sixth with Cristie Kerr placing seventh. Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen and Song-Hee Kim tied for eighth place at two-under par.
Choi wins Samsung World Championship
Choi seemed to be running away with the tournament after an eagle on the par-5, sixth hole, put the second-year LPGA player at 19-under par with a seven shot lead. But, three straight bogeys on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes cut Choi’s lead to one shot over Miyazato, who had made birdies on the seventh, eighth and 15th holes.
Choi made bogey on the 15th hole to fall into a tie for the lead. Miyazato pulled a shot ahead of Choi with a birdie on the 16th hole. But, a bogey on the final hole resulted in a two-shot swing as Choi finished strong with birdie to reclaim the lead and the win.
Jiyai Shin, who started the day in second place, uncharacteristicly struggled in the final round, never getting closer than two shots of the lead. Shin was one-over par through nine holes and, after carding birdie-bogey on the 11th and 12th holes, she finished with a double-bogey on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th.
Lorena Ochoa and Paula Creamer finished tied for fourth place at nine-under par. Sophie Gustafson took sixth with Cristie Kerr placing seventh. Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen and Song-Hee Kim tied for eighth place at two-under par.