Ai Miyazato shot a course record-tying 65 in a final-round charge to win the Elleair Ladies Open by five shots Sunday and climb to the top of the Japan LPGA money rankings.
Ai Miyazato celebrates after winning the Elleair Ladies Open.
Miyazato, who entered the final round two strokes off the pace, made seven birdies in a bogey-free round at Elleair Golf Club in Matsuyama en route to a winning total of 12-under-par 204.
Miyazato made four birdies through 10 holes and found herself on top of the leaderboard when South Korean tour veteran Ko Woo Soon had a double-bogey 6 on the 13th before stretching the lead with three consecutive birdies from the next.
Ko shared second with Shiho Oyama and Kasumi Fujii at 7-under 209, followed by South Korean Lee Ji Hee at 6-under.
"I'm glad that I was able to win my last tournament of the year on the JLPGA tour and successfully defend my Elleair title," Miyazato said of her 11th career title. "I tried not to think about the money title race. Instead, I kept concentrating on my game."
Miyazato earned a winner's check of 14.4 million yen to boost her earnings to 114.37 million yen this year.