Choi Hye-jin, Yang Hee-young tie for 9th; three Koreans finish in top 10

Yamashita wins back-to-back, earns third LPGA victory of the season

Kim A-rim tees off on the second hole during the final round of the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia on Sunday. [Getty Images]
Kim A-rim tees off on the second hole during the final round of the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia on Sunday. [Getty Images]

Kim A-rim posted the best finish among South Korean players at the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship, which carried a $3 million purse, ending the week in seventh place.

Playing Sunday at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club's West Course (par 72) in Malaysia, Kim went bogey-free and made four birdies for a 4-under-par 68 in the final round. A tournament total of 15-under-par 273 secured sole seventh place.

Kim parred all nine holes on the front nine before surging on the back, collecting all four birdies after the turn. Kim birdied the 10th and 11th holes consecutively, then closed with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.

The title went to Japan's Yamashita Miyu, who finished at 22-under-par 266. Yamashita, who had held the solo lead through the third round, shot five birdies and one bogey on the final day for a 4-under 68 to hold off the field.

The victory gave Yamashita back-to-back titles at the event, following last year's win, and marked the third LPGA Tour victory of the season — adding to wins at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June and the CPKC Women's Open in August — and the fifth of Yamashita's LPGA Tour career. The winner's share was $450,000.

Choi Hye-jin, who had finished runner-up in each of the two preceding tournaments, carded a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 with three birdies Sunday. Yang Hee-young also shot three birdies for a 3-under 69. Both players finished at 13-under-par 275, sharing ninth place.

Japan's Yamashita Miyu celebrates her victory after completing the final round of the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia on Sunday. [Getty Images]
Japan's Yamashita Miyu celebrates her victory after completing the final round of the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia on Sunday. [Getty Images]

yjc@heraldcorp.com