Choi Takes Titleholders


Na Yeon Choi closed with a 2-under 70 to win the $1.5 million CME Group Titleholders at the TwinEagles Club in Naples, Fla. The 2012 U.S. Women's Open champion earned two of the LPGA Tour's biggest paychecks this year; her latest victory was worth $500,000.

The 25-year-old carded three birdies, an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, a bogey and a double-bogey on the par-4 third to finish the LPGA's 72-hole, season-ending tournament at 14-under 274, two shots ahead of fellow South Korean So Yeon Ryu.

"I'm really happy with how I played this season," Choi told reporters. "I won my first major and even this tournament is very big for me. I think I can have even bigger expectations now and think I deserve it."

Alone in third at 277 was Brittany Lincicome (70), while another stroke back was Australia's Karrie Webb (69)

Choi began the final round with a one-shot lead over 36-hole leader Ai Miyazato of Japan. Miyazato struggled on Sunday, posting three bogeys on the front nine to make the turn in 3-over 39. She was a bit better on the back, carding three birdies and a pair of bogeys to fall into solo fifth at 279.

France's Karine Icher shot a 73 for a sixth-place finish at 280; another stroke back were Cristie Kerr (69), Spain's Azahara Munoz (70), China's Shanshan Feng (73) and Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (73).

Inbee Park wrapped up the season's money-list title with her T-17 finish at 282 with Caroline Hedwall and Lizette Salas. All three players shot 70.

Top-ranked Yani Tseng posted a 70 to tie for 26th at 287, while No. 2-ranked Stacy Lewis - the 2012 LPGA Player of the Year, had a 74 Sunday for a share of 29th at 288.

After opening with an 81 and 77, Michelle Wie did much better over the weekend in the no-cut event with rounds of 71 and 69 to tie for 62nd at 10-over 298.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx.

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