NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Seon Hwa Lee spoiled Ai Miyazato's latest bid for her first LPGA Tour title, beating the Japanese star 2 and 1 on Sunday in the final of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.
The 21-year-old Lee, the rookie of the year last year after lapping Miyazato to win the final ShopRite LPGA Classic, knocked off the 12th-seeded Miyazato after beating No. 10 Mi Hyun Kim 2-up in an all-South Korean semifinal.
"I feel really great. I love match play," Lee said.
Miyazato won the par-4 14th with a conceded birdie to cut Lee's lead to a hole, but Lee took the par-4 15th with a 6-foot birdie putt after Miyazato missed an 8-footer.
"That was a very important putt," Miyazato said.
They halved the par-5 16th with birdies -- Lee holed a 7-footer and Miyazato followed from 4 feet -- and Lee ended the match with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. Miyazato had about 5 feet left for birdie, but never got a chance to putt.
"My putter was really good this week," Lee said.
Lee took an early 2-up lead on the hilly Wykagyl course, countering a bogey loss on No. 2 with par wins on Nos. 1, 3 and 4. After halving the next six holes, Miyazato took the par-4 11th and Lee won the par-4 12th, both with pars.
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| Seon Hwa Lee won the Match Play title from the 22nd position. (AP) |
"I didn't feel the pressure," Miyazato said. "She played very well. I honestly think I played very well, too."
Last year in the ShopRite Classic, Miyazato had the lead going into the final round, but closed with a 74 to tie for 13th -- nine strokes behind Lee. The young South Korean player finished with a 63 for a three-stroke victory in the Atlantic City event.
Lee earned $500,000 in the $2 million tournament. Seeded 22nd, she beat No. 43 Diana D'Alessio (1-up), No. 54 Janice Moodie (5 and 4), No. 27 Laura Davies (2 and 1), No. 35 Lindsey Wright (3 and 2) and Kim to reach the final.
In the first round against D'Alessio, Lee was 3-down with four to play, but won the final four holes -- three with birdies -- to advance.
