Shin dazzles again

Posted on 29/06/09. Source: GOLF 365 (By Staff writer)

LPGA (US) - Wegmans LPGA
Venue: Locust Hill Country Club; Pittsford, NY
Date: 26-28 June 2009

Korea's newest star, Jiyai Shin, picked up her fifth title in 11 months with a massive seven-stroke victory at the Wegmans LPGA on Sunday.

The 21-year-old rookie from Seoul shot a 1-under 71 to finish in a downpour at 17-under 271.

Kristy McPherson and Yani Tseng each shot a 66, the day's best score, but their surge was never going to be enough to catch the runaway Shin and they had to settle for joint second-place at 10 under.

Japan's Mika Miyazato (71) and the USA's Stacy Lewis (74), a former NCAA champion from Arkansas, and fellow rookie Haeji Kang (71) of South Korea finished a shot back in joint fourth place

Inn a tournament in which Tiger Woods' niece, Cheyenne Woods, made her professional golf debut but missed the cut by four strokes, first-round leader Sandra Gal (74) of Germany bogeyed the last hole to drop into a four-way tie for seventh place at 8 under with Cristie Kerr (69), Meaghan Francella (70) and Sun Young Yoo (73).

An up-beat Shin indicated that the golfing world has not seen the last of her this season

"I have a lot of tournaments" left to play this year and "maybe I try to get more wins," she said.

"Still, my goal is rookie of the year."

Shin once more dedicated her victory to her mother, who was killed in a motor car crash in 2004. "I have my mother's picture in my course book," she said.

Shin took a four-stroke lead into the final round at the Locust Hill course and was never threatened as she marched to victory - even when she picked up two late bogeys as heavy rain pounded the course in the final rounds.

She earned $300,000 as she rocketed to the top of the money list above Kerr, In-Kyung Kim and World No 1 Lorena Ochoa with $1 million.

Ochoa and highly ranked Suzann Pettersen, the runner-up here last June, were the only two of the World's top 20 who did not play in the Wegman's LPGA

A multiple winner on the Korean tour before her move to the LPGA Tour at the start of the 2009 season, Shin became the first non-LPGA member to win three events when she secured the 2008 Women's British Open and followed that with wins in the Mizuno Classic and ADT Championship.

Lewis, who tied for third at the US Women's Open last summer, reached 13 under at the 13th, but slumped with four bogeys on the rain-lashed final six holes.

Photo source; GOLF 365.com