Ueda Lands Victory in Playoff at Mizuno Classic


Japan's Momoko Ueda must like playing in her home country. The 25-year-old won the Mizuno Classic for the second time after she sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat Shanshan Feng of China.

Ueda, who took the lead after firing an 8-under 64 Saturday at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima, Japan, closed with a 69 to tie Feng at 16-under 200 in the 54-hole, $1.2 million event.

Ueda could have won in regulation but missed a 16-foot birdie attempt on the final hole. After she and Feng both got pars on the first two playoff holes, Feng two-putted for another par while Ueda sank her birdie try on the third overtime hole.

"I was starting to think I'd never win again," said Ueda, who earned her LPGA Tour card after winning the Mizuno Classic in 2007. "It's been a tough four years in America."

Feng was gracious in defeat. "It was my first playoff ever in my life," she said. "The third time we played that hole, she made a good putt to win and I feel happy for her. This was her week."

The win for Ueda, her first since the 2009 AXA Ladies Open and second on the LPGA Tour, was worth $180,000.

South Korea's Na Yeon Choi closed with a 64 and ended up a stroke out of the playoff. Tied for fourth were Scotland's Catriona Matthew (67) and Taiwan's Teresa Lu (67) at 13-under 203. Americans Stacy Lewis (65) and Mina Harigae (69) were another stroke back with Japan's Sakura Yokomine (70).

Defending champion Jiyai Shin finally got hot, closing with a 66 to tie for ninth at 10 under.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27846.