South Korean golfer Ji Eun-hee Sunday won her first victory on the U.S. women's golf tour with a come-from-behind, two-stroke victory over Suzann Pettersen of Norway at the Wegmans LPGA.
Ji shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 16-under 272 at the Locust Hill course in Pittsford, New York. Pettersen shot a 72 and surrendered a three-stroke lead on a sunny, warm day. Ji got in front for the first time with a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 15, where Pettersen missed a 5-footer for par.
Han Hee-won and Jang Jeong, both from South Korea, tied for third at 12 under.
Ji, 22, is in her second year on the American tour and had a previous best finish of second to Pettersen at the Kolon Championship in South Korea last October.
The Associated Press quoted Ji as saying, ``I'm like a fly in the sky,'' through a translator. ``I cannot describe what I feel right now. Last year, Suzann beat me and today I beat Suzann, so now I have a confidence. ... If all the tournaments are like today, I could probably win more.''
Ji turned professional in 2004 and finished second in the Women's World Cup of Golf in South Africa in January. She started golf at 13 under the influence of her father, who coached the national water skiing team.
Ji already had ties for fourth and ninth this year and earned $300,000 in the $2 million tournament to surge from 42nd to 10th on the money list with $471,413.