(10 October 2011 – Incheon, South Korea)
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Yani Tseng&aposs dominance was extended on Sunday with a victory at the LPGA&aposs Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea. Tseng shot a final round of 5-under par 67 to beat two-time defending champion Na Yeon Choi by a shot. Tseng finished 14-under par, 202 for the 54 holes and picked up her sixth win of the season. Brittany Lincicome, Jimin Kang and Soo-Jin Yang tied for third, three shots behind Tseng.
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rnTseng started the final day tied with Choi, one shot back of second-round leader Yang. She quickly took the lead when Yang made early back-to-back bogeys at the 3rd and 4th holes. While Choi was mixing birdies and bogeys, Tseng was solid through the front nine picking up three birdies and not dropping any shots. By the time they made the turn, Tseng held a three shot lead and the title looked hers for the taking.
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rnChoi, who has edged out Tseng in this tournament previously, made a stirring fightback with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes to pull within a shot of the World No.1. Yang had regained her composure to be just two back at the same point. All three players made birdie at the 13th before Tseng showed her mettle with her fifth birdie of the day at the 15th hole.
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rnYang fell out of contention with a bogey at the 16th hole while Choi couldn’t find another birdie until the 18th hole. That put her one behind and at least meant Tseng had to sink a short par putt to secure her victory. She did that and lifted her 9th trophy of the season including the RACV Ladies Masters and Handa Women’s Australian Open in February. It was her 11th career LPGA Tour victory.
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rnAfterwards she said, “It was very tough out there. Na Yeon was playing so good today and especially when she made two birdies in a row and I missed the birdie putt. But it&aposs just really I really enjoyed it out there, and it&aposs not easy. I tried to focus on every shot, every hole, and I mean, the crowd is amazing. When Na Yeon makes birdie, it was like a huge crowd, and I think it&aposs the first time in my life I saw that many people on a golf course.”
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rnThe win gives Tseng 17 points on her quest to join the World and LPGA Golf Halls of Fame. She needs 27 points and to qualify must also satisfy the LPGA rule that a player must wait 10 active years before induction. By the end of this season, she will probably have 19 after likely Vare Trophy and Player of the Year titles – all in just four years on tour. Karrie Webb achieved her 27 points midway through her fifth season.
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rnAs for the Australians, Katherine Hull finished in a tie for 50th at 2-over par while Karrie Webb finished a shot further back in a tie for 53rd.