(10 October 2011 – Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan)
rn
Korea&aposs Sun-Ju Ahn continued her impressive form in 2011 with her 4th win of the season at the Sankyo Ladies Open on Sunday. A final round of 2-under par 70 was enough for a two shot victory over compatriots Ji-Woo Lee and Mi-Jeong Jeon and Japan’s Shiho Oyama. Ahn’s win stretched her lead on the money list, which won in her rookie season in 2010, now with season earnings of ¥103,638,428 (approx. AU$1.38m).
rn
rnAhn began the final round at 7-under par and in a tie for the lead with Japan’s Satsuki Oshiro. Their nearest challengers were on 4-under par, however the final day challengers came from further back than that. The three players who finished tied for second all made an early run at the leaders.
rn
rnOyama was first with four birdies in her opening six holes to move just one behind Ahn. Lee picked up three birdies on her outward nine to move within two shots while Jeong also moved to within one of the lead with four birdies and a bogey in her first nine holes.
rn
rn
So what could have been a race in two between Ahn and Oshiro had quickly turned into a tight battle down the stretch between four players. Oshiro couldn’t get anything going with eleven straight pars to start her day. Unfortunately she faded from contention with a couple of bogeys down the stretch to wind up in a tie for 5th after a final round 1-over par 73.
rn
rnWhen Ahn made bogey at the 12th hole, there was a three-way tie for the lead between Ahn, Jeong and Oyama. Ahn bounced back with a bogey at the very next hole while Oyama kept pace with a birdie at the 14th. Jeong could only manage eight pars to start her back nine so never really challenged the leaders, while Lee could never get closer than two shots.
rn
rnOyama, playing two groups in front of Ahn, made an untimely bogey at the 16th hole to fall one behind. She regained the shot with a final hole birdie but by that stage Ahn was conjuring up her magic with back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to walk to the 18th tee with a comfortable two shot buffer. She safely parred her last hole, marking a successful title defence. It was the 8th win of her short career and will cement her position at No.6 on the Rolex World Rankings if it doesn’t elevate her above Jiyai Shin to 5th.
rn
rnOnly Tamie Durdin made the cut of the Australians, finishing well back in a tie for 46th at 4-over par.
rn
rnOn another note, Miho Koga, the 2008 Japan LPGA money winner, on Wednesday formally announced she will retire at the end of this season, citing an ailing left wrist as the main reason behind her decision to quit after a decade on the professional circuit.
rn
rn"I decided when I turned pro that I would draw a line at 10 years as an active player," the 29-year-old Koga told a news conference ahead of the Sankyo Ladies Open. "I maybe could have played a bit longer if it wasn&apost for injuries but I am not the type to drag things out," added Koga.
rn
rnAlthough Koga finished as the top earner in 2008, she has struggled since injuring her left wrist in May 2009.