Apr 7, 2019; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Jin Young Ko tees off on the sixth hole during the final round of the ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Hills CC – Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) – Ko Jin-young clinched her first major victory when she fended off a challenge from fellow South Korean Lee Mi-hyang in the final round at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California on Sunday.
Ko had a one-shot lead with three holes to play following two quick bogeys, but a perfectly-judged 10-foot birdie putt at the 16th proved the decisive blow at Mission Hills.
She clinched in style with another birdie at the last for a two-under-par 70, beating Lee by three strokes and becoming the fifth Korean to win the event.
Ko, last year’s LPGA Rookie of the Year, finished at 10-under 278, while Lee carded 70 for second place, a shot ahead of American Lexi Thompson (67).
Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford
