American Cristie Kerr has closed with a seven-under-par 65 to win the Kia Classic, claiming her first LPGA Tour title in nearly two years.

Kerr finished at 20-under 268, breaking the tournament record by six shots as she won her 17th career title.

She made four straight birdies on the back nine at Aviara in Carlsbad, California to pull away and win by two strokes from South Korea’s Mirim Lee (70) with 17-year-old world No.1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand a further stroke back in third place after a 67.

Her victory ended a streak of South Korean-born players winning the last seven LPGA events.

Ko got to a share of the lead by playing the front nine in five-under but didn’t make another birdie after her sixth at the 14th hole and took a double bogey on the last.

It was her 28th consecutive round under par on the LPGA Tour, one short of Annika Sorenstam’s record set in 2004.