Monday, Nov. 9, 2009

SHIMA, Mie Pref. (Kyodo) Overnight leader Song Bo Bae closed with a 4-under 68 Sunday to win the Mizuno Classic by three strokes.

Winning smile: Song Bo Bae of South Korea holds her golf ball aloft after winning the Mizuno Classic golf tournament at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club Sunday in Mie Prefecture. KYODO PHOTO

The Japan-based South Korean finished at 15-under 201 at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Mie Prefecture for her third career Japan LPGA title and second of the season following the Japan Women's Open in October.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa shot a course record-tying 64 to share second with American Brittany Lang and South Korean Park Hee Young, who had 68s in the $1.4 million event co-sanctioned by the U.S. and Japanese LPGA Tours.

Song kept her composure and had five birdies through 13 holes before carding her only bogey on the 14th and settling for pars the rest of the way.

Lang ran off three straight birdies from No. 13 to cut Song's lead to two shots but fell back with a bogey on the par-5 16th and never got any closer.

"Weather conditions were great and I got cheered on by the crowd. I thought I could win this tournament if I played my brand of golf," said Song, who earned $210,000 and a one-year exemption on the U.S. LPGA Tour.

"I've been playing on the Japanese tour for three years because I like Japan, so I don't know if I will give the U.S. circuit a shot," said the 23-year-old.

U.S. LPGA money leader Shin Ji Yai (69) and Yani Tseng (67) were in a four-way tie for fifth at 11-under.

Momoko Ueda (70), Rui Kitada (71) and Kim In Kyung (72) shared ninth place a stroke further back.

Sakura Yokomine, second in the Japanese money rankings, cut Shinobu Moromizato's lead to about 190,000 yen with three tournaments of the season remaining after a 67 left her tied for 12th at 9-under.

Ai Miyazato was another shot behind after a 72. Moromizato had a 71 and shared 57th at 1-over.

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