Miyazato wins again on LPGA Tour

Japan’s Ai Miyazato made it two wins from two tournaments when capturing the $1.3million HSBC Women’s Champions tournament in Singapore. Miyazato, who last week won the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, was joint overnight leader with United States’ Juli Inkster but saw off that rival and the remainder of the field with a final round 69.

Miyazato’s round gave her a 10-under par total of 278 and claim the winner’s cheque of $195,000. But for a sticky start where she bogeyed the first two holes, Miyazaot could have been well clear of the field early as Inkster faltered but the Japanese star sound found her range and birdies at the fourth, fifth and ninth saw her back in the hunt.

Miyazato then bogeyed the tenth before after a trio of consecutive birdies put her back in front.

American Cristie Kerr became Miyazato’s closest challenger but a pair of bogeys on the last two holes put paid to any chance and she eventually finished alone in second place, two shots behind the Japanese to collect the runners-up cheque of $123,739.

South Korea’s Shin Ji-Yai, the tournament defending champion and world number two put up a brave fight in defence of her title with five birdies to finish at seven-under par 281 and tie for third place with Yani Tseng, Jim Song-Hee and Suzann Pettersen.

Inkster, after sharing the lead going into the final round, fell away as the veteran America carded a two-over par round of 74, while Lorena Ochoa will be cursing a disastrous second round 79 which effectively ended all chance for the world number one. Ochoa finished on even-par for the tournament and a share of 38th place alongside United States’ Morgan Pressel and others.

Michelle Wie held slim hopes of adding to her sole LPGA win, having got to within six strokes of the lead going into the final round. It was a mountain too big for the young American to climb, however, and a final round 70 saw her tie for 15th place.