South Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee clinched her first LPGA Tour win since 2017 with a determined one-stroke victory at the Blue Bay event in Hainan, China.

MI Hyang Lee secured her first LPGA Tour victory in nearly nine years with a resilient one-stroke win at the Blue Bay event in Hainan, China on Sunday.

The South Korean golfer carded a final-round 73 to finish on 11-under 277, holding off a charging Zhang Weiwei of China who shot a 69 to finish one shot back.

Lee’s triumph marks her third career LPGA title, following her previous wins at the 2014 TOTO Japan Classic and the 2017 Women’s Scottish Open.

The 32-year-old showed remarkable composure after a challenging front nine that included two double bogeys, battling back with three birdies on the back nine including a crucial birdie on the final hole.

“I trusted myself this morning but I was… I can feel I was nervous. You know, I really wanted to win,” said Lee, who continues to manage shoulder pain.

Lee admitted she was “really struggling” after her early double bogeys but praised her own resilience in fighting back over the closing stretch.

“Then a lot of up and down… but I still just kept fighting at the back nine and just no bogey and three birdies, so I’m really proud of myself,” she said.

The champion added, “Still I cannot believe it. It feels so great.”

India’s Aditi Ashok and Auston Kim of the United States shared third place on eight-under 280.

Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan finished one shot further back in a four-way tie for fifth.

 The Sun Malaysia