Yuri Yoshida wins in South Korea for her first LPGA Tour victory

HAENAM, South Korea (AP) — Yuri Yoshida won the LPGA South Korea tournament holding off Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi in a close finish at Pine Beach Golf Links on Sunday.

It was Yoshida’s first LPGA Tour victory and came in dramatic finale as both overnight leader Haeran Ryu and Yoshida bogeyed the final hole leaving the Japanese player ahead by one stoke and a four-round total of 17-under 271.

Yoshida was four shots off the pace going into Sunday’s final round but lit up the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 second, followed by three consecutive birdies to be 5-under 31 at the turn. Bogey’s at the 15th and 18th was offset by a crucial birdie at the 17th which gave the 26-year-old the buffer she needed.

Ryu led the tournament by four strokes going into the final round, but couldn’t find the same rhythm on Sunday as she shot a 73 to finish at 16-under 272.

The South Korean player made 15 consecutive pars before dropping a crucial shot at the par-4 16th which handed back Yoshida’s one-shot advantage.

Both player’s made birdies at the 17th, but a costly miss for Ryu at the 18th allowed Yoshida to clinch it, despite the Japanese golfer also making bogey.

Hye-Jin Choi, who was in a tie for second coming in the final round, stayed in contention throughout Sunday and mixed four birdies with a lone bogey to finish at 16-under 272, and a shot behind Yoshida in a tie for second with Ryu.

Choi is still looking for her first victory in 125 career LPGA Tour starts as a member. She has held or shared a 54-hole lead five times in her LPGA career without converting it into a win.

Last week in Shanghai, Choi was runner-up by one stroke to China’s Ruoning Yin after the South Korean golfer led after each of the first three rounds.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who ended a five-year victory drought in 2025 with a win last year in South Korea, shot 70 Sunday and finished at 2-under 286 and a tie for 55th.

In its late-season Asian swing, the LPGA Tour moves to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week for the Maybank Championship, the third of four events.

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