(2 November 2009 – Incheon, South Korea)
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South Korean Na Yeon Choi battled bitterly cold winds to post a bogey-free 5-under par 67 and claim a one-shot victory at the Hana Bank KOLON Championship on Sunday. Sweden&aposs Maria Hjorth and Chinese Taipei&aposs Yani Tseng couldn&apost quite match Choi, finishing tied for second; both having their chances in a final group that exchanged the lead all day.
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Tseng and Choi, ranked 6th and 11th on the Rolex World Rankings respectively, headed to the first tee on the final day with a one-shot buffer over Hjorth and another Korean Jimin Kang, with another 12 players within three shots of the lead. The final grouping of Choi, Tseng and Hjorth were on fire early and basically extinguished any chance the chasing pack had of contending for the US$255,000 winner’s cheque. Hjorth posted 5 birdies to move to 9-under, Tseng four (-9) and Choi three of her own (-8), all three bogey-free on the front nine. Kang unfortunately started badly and ended up posting a 6-over par 78 to finish in a tie for 25th.
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rnThe back nine was a vastly different scenario with all three finding birdies difficult to come by. Tseng made the first error with a bogey at the 12th leaving Hjorth out in front all on her own. She was joined by Choi after a birdie at the par-4 15th. With three holes to play Hjorth and Choi were on 9-under par with Tseng on 8-under. All three made pars at the 16th and 17th holes leaving the result hinging on the final hole. The 18th, a reachable par-5, saw both Tseng and Choi make birdies while Hjorth could only manage a par, leaving Choi one in front and a two-time winner this season. An emotional Choi said later, “I feel very proud right now for winning on my home soil. My parents are here and it is really special.”
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rnThe win moves Choi to 5th on the Official Money List with season earnings of US$1,221,359 and she should move into the top-10 on the Rolex World Rankings for the first time when they are released tomorrow. After winning her maiden title at the Samsung World Championship in September, Choi becomes only the third player this season, joining Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin, to win multiple titles.
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rnLindsey Wright was the best of the ALPG contingent finishing in a tie for 25th at 2-over par total 218. She bounced back well after a disappointing second round of 7-over par 79. Katherine Hull finished three shots behind Wright in a tie for 37th.
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rnThe Asian swing continues this week with the US$1.4million Mizuno Classic to be played in Japan. This is another of the limited field events and it will see Nikki Campbell and Tamie Durdin joined in Japan by Karrie Webb, Lindsey Wright and Katherine Hull.
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Photo by Paul Melville – Na Yeon Choi