Inbee Park wins Lorena Ochoa Invitational after thrilling battle with Carlota Ciganda

Inbee Park held off a stunning final-round charge from Carlota Ciganda to clinch her fifth LPGA Tour title of the season at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico.

Ciganda piled the pressure on the world No 2 with an exemplary front-nine 30, and she closed to within a shot of the South Korean with further birdies at the 10th, 11th and 14th holes.

But Park stayed calm and composed throughout the enthralling battle, picking up three shots in four holes after turning in 33 and birdies at the final two holes completed a flawless eight-under 64 which earned her a three-shot win on 18 under par.

Ciganda's bogey at the short 16th proved to be a huge turning point, and the pair traded birdies at the 17th before Park closed the door on the Solheim Cup star when she knocked her approach to four feet at the final hole.

Park rattled the putt into the centre of the cup for her eighth birdie of the day to seal her 17th career LPGA Tour title, although the victory was not enough to dethrone Lydia Ko from the top of the world rankings or the Race to the CME Globe standings.

The 27-year-old will now go head-to-head with Ko in the season finale at the CMW Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, which starts on Thursday.

Ciganda parred the final hole to return a 63 and claim outright second place ahead of Sei Young Kim, who could not keep pace with her playing partners in the final group as she carded an eagle and five birdies in a closing 66 to finish on 13 under.

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So Yeon Ryu made it three South Koreans in the top four when she birdied three of the last four holes to cap a 67 that lifted her to 11 under.

Ciganda's Solheim Cup team-mate Caroline Masson enjoyed her best performance of the season as a seven-birdie 66 earned her a share of sixth on eight under, while Suzann Pettersen was two shots further behind following a solid 69.