Japan's Yoshida claims maiden LPGA title with stunning comeback; Ryu, Choi share runner-up

Yoshida Yuri of Japan overcame a four-stroke deficit to win the BMW Ladies Championship, South Korea's only LPGA Tour event.

Playing in the rain Sunday at Pine Beach Golf Links (par 72) in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, Yoshida carded a 4-under-par 68 in the final round to finish at 17-under 271, edging joint runners-up Ryu Hae-ran and Choi Hye-jin by one stroke. The victory was Yoshida's first on the LPGA Tour, earning her a winner's check of $352,500.

Starting the final round four shots behind leader Ryu, Yoshida ignited her charge with a 15-yard chip-in eagle on the par-5 second hole. She then reeled off three consecutive birdies on holes 5 through 7 — including a chip-in birdie on the par-4 fifth — to move into the lead.

Yoshida gave back a share of the lead when she bogeyed the par-3 15th after a wayward tee shot, drawing level with Ryu, but she reclaimed the outright lead with a 1.2-meter birdie on the par-5 17th. A bogey on the par-4 18th, however, meant she finished in a tie for the lead and waited in the clubhouse.

Ryu, who was chasing her third win of the season, was undone by the final three holes. She recovered from a bogey on the par-4 16th with a 1.3-meter birdie on the par-5 17th, only to bogey the 18th and miss her chance to force a playoff.

Choi Hye-jin also fell agonizingly short. She had a 2-meter birdie putt on the 18th that would have sent the round to a playoff, but the ball lipped out for par, leaving her with a runner-up finish for the second consecutive week. Choi finished with four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under round.

Kim Hyo-joo closed with six birdies and two bogeys for a 4-under 68, finishing at 15-under 273 to share fourth place with Kim Min-sol. Kim Min-sol posted a bogey-free 5-under 67, carding five birdies without a dropped shot.

Japan's Hataoka Nasa fired the day's best round, a 6-under 66, to finish at 14-under 274 and share sixth place with Grace Kim of Australia and Carlota Ciganda of Spain, among others.

Kim Min-seon shot a 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275 and claim sole 10th place. Park Min-ji, however, dropped a shot on the day to finish at 12-under 276, falling into a tie for 11th.