Minjee Lee carried a one-stroke lead into the final round of the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open and cruised on home for victory, finishing at 14-under par to claim a four-stroke win over Korea’s Sei Young Kim.
The 22-year-old Australian carded four birdies and a lone bogey en route to a final-round 68.
“I was just going to carry on playing my own game,” said Lee, who will move to No. 2 in the Rolex World Rankings on Monday.
“I had a couple birdie opportunities coming in, so I didn’t get rattled up or anything.”
Kim recorded six birdies on the day, signing for a 66 to secure solo second at 10 under par. Americans Morgan Pressel (64) and Annie Park (67), a USC product, tied for third at 9-under par.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who started the day just one stroke off the pace of Lee, struggled to a 76, and fell to 13th.
Final Leaderboard: Top-5
1. Minjee Lee -14 (-3)
2. Sei Young Kim -10 (-5)
3. Annie Park -9 (4)
3. Morgan Pressel -9 (-3)
5. Amy Yang -8 (7)
5. Gaby Lopez -8 (-5)
5. Meghan Kang -8 (-3)
5. Jin Young Ko -8 (-2)
5. Inbee Park -8 (-1)
Lee’s Winning Stats
Driving: 280.5 yards
Fairways: 45/56, 80.4%
Greens: 58/72, 80.6%
Putts/GIR: 101/1.74
Scores: 1 Eagle, 17 Birdies, 49 Pars, 5 Bogeys
Quotable
“I think the two people who won (in Thailand and Singapore), they just outplayed me on the day. I didn’t feel like I played bad or anything. Felt pretty solid. Hawaii, Brooke pretty much played the game that she had to win. I didn’t feel like I lost, but I knew I was close to probably winning out here. I was pretty solid and pretty consistent.”
– Minjee Lee, L.A. Open Champion
Source: LPGA Communciations
