Japan’s Momoko Ueda birdied the third hole of a playoff with China’s Feng Shanshan yesterday to win the Mizuno Classic.
Overnight leader Ueda, who won the tournament in 2007, sealed the win with a long birdie putt on the par-four 18th at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club for her first win of this year.
Feng shot a seven-under 65 in the final round to pull even with Ueda, who had a 69 as both players finished regulation at 16-under 200.
CATCH-UP
Feng, who started the final round tied for third four strokes behind Ueda, fell just short in her bid for her first LPGA victory. The 22-year-old has won twice on the Japan tour and had three top-10 finishes on the LPGA.
FIRST OF YEAR
Ueda, whose Mizuno Classic win in 2007 earned her LPGA membership in 2008, has eight career wins on the Japan tour, but had not won a tournament since the 2009 AXA Ladies Open.
South Korea’s Choi Na-yeon had a 64 — the best round of the day — to finish a stroke out of the playoff.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew (67) and Taiwan’s Teresa Lu (67) followed at 13-under, and Americans Stacy Lewis (65) and Mina Harigae (69) were another stroke back along with Japan’s Sakura Yokomine (70).
Defending champion Shin Ji-yai of South Korea shot a 66 to finish tied for ninth at 10-under 206.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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