(LEAD) Shin Ji-yai wins RACV Ladies Masters in Australia

All News 21:08 February 28, 2016

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details, comments)

SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Shin Ji-yai won the Australian RACV Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour (LET) by three strokes Sunday after a solid final round of four-under 69 at Royal Pines Resort in Gold Coast.

Shin, former world No. 1, sealed the victory with a 14-under total of 278, edging out England's Holly Clyburn who shot an 11-under 281. Shin collected six birdies against two bogeys on the par-73, 6,445-yard layout to earn $57,502 Australian dollars.

The victory made Shin the second South Korean to win the Australian Ladies Masters, after Yang Hee-young in 2006. Shin was the runner-up in 2007.

Shin held the overnight lead of two shots over Clyburn and Camilla Lennarth of Sweden. Lennarth birdied the first and the third holes to join the South Korean at the top at 10-under, and Clyburn made it a three-way tie for the lead thanks to birdies at the third and the sixth.

Shin broke free with a birdie of her own at the sixth. Birdies at the eighth and the 10th put Shin ahead by two. She committed bogeys at the 11th and 13th to fall back into a tie with Lennarth.

Lennarth blinked first with a bogey at the 14th, and Shin pulled away with consecutive birdies at the 15th and the 16th.

Shin capped off her victory with a birdie on the final hole.

"I really wanted to win this tournament because previously I came second. I really want my photo up with the past champions," Shin told LET's website. "I got a lot of motivation from each. I love coming to Australia; it really feels like home. It is great to win. That means I get to come back next year."

Shin was the Women's British Open champ in 2008 and 2012, and has won 11 U.S. LPGA tournaments and 21 Korean LPGA events.

The 27-year-old now plays full time in Japan, where she has won 12 times. The 2016 Japanese season will begin Thursday.

South Korea's amateur Choi Hye-jin and Lee So-young each tied for fifth place and 11th at the Ladies Masters.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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