Juli Inkster made her first Corning Classic victory one for the record books.
Inkster shot a 10-under-par 62 -- tying the lowest final-round score by a winner in the history of the LPGA Tour -- to beat Canada's Lorie Kane by four strokes despite a closing 67 by the Canadian star Sunday.
It was also Inkster's first victory since she beat Annika Sorenstam for the US Women's Open title last summer.
Inkster's cumulative score of 24-under-par 264 also shattered the tournament record of 268 set in 1998 by Tammie Green. It was Inkster's 29th career victory, 17th come-from-behind triumph, and the lowest round of her Hall of Fame career.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew, who began the day with a two-shot lead over Kane, had a final-round 70 and finished alone in third at 269. Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel each shot 68 and tied for fourth at 270.
Two-time Corning champion Rosie Jones led three players at 272, while Karrie Webb, who shot 65, and Wendy Ward were ninth at 273. Defending champion Laura Diaz had a closing 63 and finished at 276. The first hole, a 368m, par-4, gave players problems all weekend, and Sunday was no exception. Matthew, Mallon, and Daniel each carded bogeys while Inkster made par to move within two shots of the lead.
Inkster, who was paired with Daniel, then reeled off four straight birdies to tie Matthew at 18 under.
After a par at No. 6, Inkster continued to step up the pressure. She hit a 7-iron to 3.7m and made birdie at the seventh hole, then hit a sand wedge to 1.2m at No. 8 and sank that putt to go 20 under and gain a one-shot lead over Kane.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates yesterday ahead of their season-opening games with the San Diego Padres next week. Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and a cap backwards, was the first Dodgers player who showed up at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, walked several steps behind him. As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, shouted his name and cheered slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand, but did not say anything before he entered a limousine bus with his wife. Fans held placards
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