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Park Inbee wins first LPGA title of year

June 9, 2014

Park Inbee gets a victory shower from Lydia Ko after winning the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, June 8, 2014 in Waterloo, Ontario. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Dave Chidley)

Park Inbee of South Korea won the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic golf tournament in Canada on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title this year.

Park, who fell to No. 2 in the world ranking last week, tore apart Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario, in the final round with her career-low 10-under 61, with 10 birdies and no bogeys. Park finished the three-round event at 23-under 261, three shots ahead of Cristie Kerr of the United States, and took home the US$225,000 winner’s check.

This was Park’s first LPGA title since the U.S. Open in June last year. In March, she won an event on the Ladies European Tour.

Park began the day two shots off the leader Feng Shanshan of China but poured in five birdies on the front nine. Park didn’t let up on the back nine, adding five more birdies to tie the course record set by fellow South Korean Park Hee-young, the 2013 champion.

Park Hee-young faded with an even-par third round, and ended up finishing tied for tenth at 13-under 271, along with former LPGA Rookie of the Year Ryu So-yeon

The victory came a week after Park lost the No. 1 spot in the women’s world golf rankings to Stacy Lewis of the United States. The South Korean had been at the top for the past 59 weeks.

Lewis tied for sixth at 15-under with Michelle Wie, but will retain her No. 1 world ranking for at least another week.

Lydia Ko finished tied for fourth at 16-under 268 to collect $69,332.