Japan’s Ai Miyazato birdied three of her last six holes on Saturday en route to a two-under 70 and a four-stroke victory in the inaugural LPGA Lotte Championship.
Miyazato claimed the eighth LPGA title of her career with a 12-under total of 276. She had taken a three-shot lead into the final round and had four birdies and two bogeys on Saturday as windy conditions again made things difficult on the par-72 Ko Olina course.
Miyazato’s victory comes after two runner-up finishes to world number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan this season, in Thailand and Phoenix.
South Korea’s Meena Lee was tied for the lead after a birdie at the 15th, but she took a double-bogey six at the par-four 18th to complete a two-under 70 for a share of second place along with Spain’s Azahara Munoz. Munoz carded a 71 to join Lee on eight-under 280.
It was a further stroke back to South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu (71) and American Cristie Kerr (72) on 281.
Tseng, winner of three titles this year, carded a 74 that left her tied for 10th on four-under – her seventh straight top-10 finish this year.