Ai Miyazato took full advantage of a commanding lead she took after two rounds and cruised to an eight-shot victory Sunday at the Vernal Ladies for her first title of the year on the Japan LPGA Tour.
Ai Miyazato smiles with her trophy after winning the Vernal Ladies tournament in Amagi,
Fukuoka Prefecture, on Sunday. It was her first JLPGA Tour victory this season.
Miyazato, whose course-record 64 Saturday gave her a six-stroke cushion, finished the 54-hole tournament at 13-under-par 203 after shooting a final-round 70 with an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys at Fukuoka Century Golf Club.
With the win at the Tour's richest tournament, Miyazato earned a check for 21.6 million yen from the 120 million yen purse and jumped into first place on this year's money list with 31.9 million yen in official earnings, 7.6 million yen ahead of second-placed Michiko Hattori.