Sunday 2 November 2014 12:05, UK
Inbee Park held off a strong challenge from Stacy Lewis to clinch a tense two-shot victory at the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship.
Park's overnight four-stroke lead had been whittled down to one at the turn in wet and windy conditions at the Miramar Country Club, but a solid run of eight pars and a crucial birdie at 17 on the inward half proved enough to secure her 12th LPGA Tour title.
The South Korean, who replaced Lewis at the top of the world rankings last week, matched the American's birdies at the opening two holes before Lewis added another at the third.
Park's advantage returned to four when Lewis bogeyed the fifth, but the world No 2 reapplied the pressure with a birdie at seven before Park bogeyed the next two holes to slip back to 21 under.
The birdie putts then dried up for both players after the turn, and Lewis blotted her card for the second time at the 13th before getting back to within one of the lead at the 16th.
But Park then broke a run of seven consecutive pars as she birdied the 17th for the second day running to give herself a two-shot cushion heading down the par-five 18th.
Lewis was unable to convert for birdie on the final green, and Park holed out for a solid par to claim her third victory of the year, and her first since edging out Brittany Lincicome at the LPGA Championship in August.
"It was a tough day and I got nervous, even on the 18th hole," Park said afterwards. "Sometimes with a four-shot lead, you put that much pressure. It was really a competitive day.
"I took over the spot last week and I didn't know how long I was going to be able to stay up there because it was just so close. I knew that I had to win this week or I have to win one or two out of the three tournaments left."
Lydia Ko fittingly secured third place, ensuring the top three emulated the world rankings, as the New Zealand teenager closed with a flawless six-under 66 to finish five shots behind Park.
Solheim Cup star Azahara Munoz birdied three of the last five holes to cap a 69 and clinch outright fourth place on 16 under, two ahead of Amy Yang.
But it was a bad finish for world No 6 Shanshan Feng, who started the day tied for second with Lewis before crashing out of contention with three bogeys in four holes around the turn as she stumbled to a four-over 76.
