Miyazato wins for the second week in a row
Singapore (Sports Network) - Ai Miyazato won for the second week in a row on
the LPGA Tour Sunday when she titled at the HSBC Women's Champions event at
Tanah Merah Country Club.
Miyazato, who shared the third-round lead, shot a three-under 69 and won the
title at 10-under 278. She finished two strokes clear of Cristie Kerr, who had
a 68 on Sunday, but the tournament was tight on the back nine.
Kerr grabbed a one-shot lead thanks to a birdie at the par-four 16th. She
stood at 10-under par, but Miyazato, two groups behind Kerr, birdied No. 16 to
draw even.
The pair didn't stay tied for long. Kerr bogeyed the 17th and was one behind
at minus-nine. Kerr bogeyed the 18th as well and Miyazato parred out to earn
her third LPGA Tour title.
Miyazato captured last year's Evian Masters for her first tour win. She came
from behind last week to take the season-opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand and
with the victory, moved to fourth in the world rankings.
Miyazato pocketed $195,000 for the win.
Suzann Pettersen, who lost to Miyazato last week, held a piece of the lead on
Sunday, but never kept up thanks to one bogey and zero birdies on the back
nine.
Pettersen shot a three-under 69 and shared third place with Yani Tseng (69),
Song-Hee Kim (67) and last year's champion and world No. 2 Jiyai Shin (67).
The group finished at seven-under 281.
Juli Inkster's bid to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history was
derailed quickly on Sunday. The Hall of Famer bogeyed her first two holes en
route to a two-over 74 and fell into a share of ninth.
In-Kyung Kim and Vicky Hurst both had three-under 69s on Sunday and tied for
seventh place at minus-six.
Inkster, 49, dipped into a share of ninth place with Angela Stanford (70), Jee
Young Lee (69), Sakura Yokomine (70), Na Yeon Choi (70) and Hee Young Park
(72) at five-under 283.
NOTES: Michelle Wie had a two-under 70 on Sunday and tied for 15th at four-
under par...World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa never recovered from her seven-over 79 on
Friday. She went 73-72 over the weekend and shared 38th place at four-over
292...The LPGA Tour returns in a month for the Kia Classic Presented by J
Golf, which was won last year by Karrie Webb.
02/28 03:09:30 ET
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