Japan’s Ai Miyazato fired a seven-under 64 on Sunday to win the LPGA ShopRite Classic for a No. 1 ranking and her fourth win of the season.
The 25-year-old Miyazato was guaranteed to take over the No. 1 position when the women’s golf rankings were issued yesterday.
“When I started playing in the States, that’s when I really started thinking about being No. 1,” Miyazato said. “That became a dream of mine, especially watching Annika [Sorenstam] and Lorena [Ochoa] play. Now that I am No. 1, I still can’t believe it, but I do feel very comfortable with it.”
PHOTO: AFP
Second-round leader M.J. Hur of South Korea placed second, two shots adrift of Miyazato, who turns 25 on Saturday.
South Korean compatriot Park In-bee was a further two shots back. Park is the 2008 US Women’s Open champion.
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, South Korea’s Han Hee-won and Katherine Hull of Australia shared fourth place at 11-under.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng shot a 69 to finish on seven-under. Compatriot Amy Hung was two shots further back at five-under, Candie Kung finished on four-under and Teresa Lu was a shot further back.
Miyazato began the final round two shots back. She needed only three holes to grab a share of the lead, finishing with seven birdies in a bogey-free round that gave her a 54-hole total of 16-under 197.
“I believe in myself and the game and no matter what the situation is, or the pressure is, I feel like I can play my game,” Miyazato said.
It was Miyazato’s fifth career win on the LPGA Tour, but her first on US soil.
She won earlier this year in Thailand, Singapore and Mexico. Her victory last year came in France.
She earned US$225,000 in first-place prize money.
The win vaults her past South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai into top spot in the rankings. Shin has missed the last two tournaments after undergoing an appendectomy.
Hur said she was pleased for Miyazato.
“She’s just gorgeous,” Hur said. “She hits straight and has good putts, so I think she plays really simple. I want to be playing that too.”
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