Yamashita Miyu sets course record, wins Aramco Korea Championship by 3 strokes

World No. 5 Yamashita Miyu of Japan set a course record on the final day of the Ladies European Tour's Aramco Korea Championship — a $2 million event — to win by three strokes.

Playing Sunday at New Korea Country Club (par 72) in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Yamashita carded a bogey-free 63 — a new course record — featuring one eagle and seven birdies for a 9-under round. Having shot in the 60s all four days (67-68-68-63), she finished at 22-under-par 266, three clear of runner-up Sara Koskova of the Czech Republic.

Koskova also fired a bogey-free, nine-birdie 63 to finish at 19-under 269 and claim second place.

The 63 posted by both Yamashita and Koskova on Sunday is the new course record at New Korea Country Club. The previous mark of 7-under 65 was shared by Park Seo-jin, who set it last year, and Patricie Mackova of the Czech Republic, who matched it in the first round Thursday.

The most anticipated storyline heading into the final round was a showdown with Cheng Ya-ni of Taiwan. Through 54 holes, Yamashita led at 13-under par while Cheng sat one stroke back at 12-under in sole second, setting up a fierce battle in the final pairing.

When play began, however, the contest quickly became one-sided. Yamashita's precise iron play and sharp putting produced three birdies on the front nine alone, opening up an early gap. She maintained her ball-striking on the back nine as well, then drove a stake through any remaining suspense with an eagle on the par-5 17th hole.

Cheng fought back with four birdies on the final day but had to settle for a share of third place at 16-under 272.

The victory was Yamashita's fourth worldwide win of the season. She claimed her first of the year at the LPGA Tour's Meijer LPGA Classic in June in a playoff, then dominated the CPKC Women's Open in August with a nine-stroke victory while tying the 72-hole scoring record at 23-under 257. Last month she added the Sony JLPGA Championship on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.

Kim Hyo-joo, bidding for a third consecutive title, closed with six birdies and no bogeys for a 6-under final round but finished at 13-under 275, tied for seventh. Park Sung-hyun also shot 3-under to finish at 10-under 278, tied for 14th.