Miyazato wins second straight event
February 28, 2010
SINGAPORE (AP)—Ai Miyazato won the HSBC Champions on Sunday to become thefirst LPGA Tour player in 44 years to sweep the first two events of a season,closing with 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr.
Miyazato, the 24-year-old Japanese star who won the LPGA Thailand last week,took the lead with a birdie on the par-4 16th—a hole she played in 5 under forthe week—and parred the final two holes to finish at 10 under on Tanah Merah’sGarden Course.
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A 15-time winner on the Japanese tour, Miyazato earned $195,000 for herthird career LPGA Tour victory—all outside North America. She won the EvianMasters last year in France for her first LPGA Tour title.
Marilynn Smith was last player to win the first two events in a season,accomplishing the feat in 1966.
Kerr birdied No. 16 to take the lead at 10 under, but bogeyed the final twoholes for a 68. Jiyai Shin, the winner last year, closed with a 67 to tie forthird at 7 under with Suzann Pettersen (69), Song-Hee Kim (67) and Yani Tseng(69).
Juli Inkster, the 49-year-old Hall of Famer who began the round tied withMiyazato for the lead, shot a 74 to tie for ninth at 5 under.
Michelle Wie had a 70 to tie for 15th at 4 under.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa, tied for the first-round lead after a 68, closedwith rounds of 79, 73 and 72 to tie for 38th at 4 over. She won the inauguralevent in 2008.
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