South Korean teenage amateur Kim Hyo Joo embarked on a birdie rampage to pull off an astonishing come-from-behind victory at the Suntory Ladies Open on Sunday, becoming the youngest ever title winner on the Japan LPGA Tour in the process.
Mayu Hattori looked poised to restore a little national pride and become the first Japanese winner in over a month after opening up a five-shot lead on Saturday, but 16-year-old Kim stole her thunder and further underlined South Koreans domination of the tour, firing a bogey-free 11-under-par 61 for a four-stroke victory over Miki Saiki on her Japan debut.
"I'm so delighted I don't know what's going on," said second-year high school student Kim, who won the opening event on the South Korean tour this season and has already been dubbed the next Shin Ji Yai in her homeland.