Japan’s Ai Miyazato won the US$1.3 million HSBC Women’s Champions tournament in Singapore yesterday to continue her sparkling start to the USLPGA season with a second straight title.
Miyazato, the joint overnight leader with Juli Inkster of the US, posted a 69 for a 10-under total of 278 for the tournament and took home the winner’s check of US$195,000.
It was a topsy-turvy ride to the title as the Japanese star bogeyed the first and second holes, before finding her range with birdies at the fourth, fifth and ninth holes on the front nine.
PHOTO: CNA
On the back nine, she bogeyed the 10th hole, but followed it up with three straight birdies to briefly take a one-shot lead over a pack of contenders.
Miyazato’s win in Singapore capped a fine start for the 24-year-old who won the season opener in Thailand last week.
“Well, I was really calm this morning, but you know, sometimes like when you play calm, it’s not going to happen,” Miyazato said. “So I stepped back after my bogeys [on] the first two holes and I didn’t really control myself after that. So it was really a long day ... So it was tough, but I’m just happy to win.”
On how she held her nerve to make three straight birdies on the back nine, Miyazato said: “I’m just trying to concentrate on the moment on my stroke, and I also focus on trying to keep a low center of gravity.”
A crucial birdie putt at the 16th hole gave Miyazato the lead again as she went 10-under and Cristie Kerr of the US bogeyed the 17th to drop to nine-under.
Kerr, who had been solid all day, threatened, but saw her chance of lifting the trophy slip away when she bogeyed the 17th and 18th to finish two shots behind the winner at eight-under for a total of 280.
“For sure, I played my heart out today,” Kerr said. “Seventeen was tough, but you know, I kind of just kept the bad momentum going and just kind of made a bad decision. You live and learn, I guess.”
Kerr, ranked sixth in the world, said she was keeping her chin up, despite coming so near to winning the title only to falter in the final moments.
“You know, in contention, beginning of the year, I’ve got to take that away,” Kerr said. “It’s a disappointing finish, but I still have to keep my head high.”
Defending champion and world No. 2 Shin Ji-yai of South Korea put up a valiant fight for her title defense, with five birdies to finish at seven-under 281.
She finished tied in third spot with Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (69), South Korea’s Kim Song-hee (67) and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (69).
Taiwan’s Candie Kung shot a 73 to finish tied for 38th spot on four-over, while Teresa Lu carded a 74 to finish tied for 45th spot two shots further back.
Inkster finished tied for ninth as she carded a two-over 74, with six bogeys in the final round.
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa was never in contention after a disastrous second round. She finished tied for 38th spot with a 72.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
RSS