Brave Lee, Ko fall short at Arkansas

Australia’s Minjee Lee fired a three-under-par final round 68, but it was not enough to prevent South Korean Na Yeon Choi from lifting her ninth LPGA title at the NW Arkansas Championship.

Choi closed with a two-under-par 69 to finish at 15-under 198 at Pinnacle Country Club, which included an eagle from the fairway on the par-four 16th hole.

Choi’s eight-iron from 142 metres on the 16th one-hopped into the hole to give her a one-shot lead over Stacy Lewis, the defending champion and local favourite.

The South Korean followed with another eight-iron to a foot on the par-3 17th, and closed with a par, to win by two strokes from Japan’s Mika Miyazato.

Lee could not repeat her round of 66 the day earlier and finished four shots off the pace.

The Western Australian had to settle for a share of sixth, along with Paula Creamer and fast-finishing world No. 2 Lydia Ko.

Australians Karrie Webb and Katherine Kirk finished lower down in the field.

Veteran Webb shot a final round 72 for a three-under-par 210 and a share of 52nd while Kirk, a shot back, was joint 60th.

Kiwi Ko stormed home with an eight-birdie final round 63, just one shot of the tournament record, to rocket up the leaderboard from 40th overnight.

Choi, who also won the season-opening Coates Golf Championship in Florida, needed 33 putts in her final round and was one over for the day before her eagle on the 16th.

Her nearly perfect back-to-back 8-irons were enough, however, to overcome any other struggles for the day and earn $US300,000 for the win.

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