INZAI CITY, Japan — American Collin Morikawa called winning the Zozo LPGA Championship in Japan “incredible,” a special way to close the season for a player whose great grandparents emigrated from the country.
Australian Minjee Lee, meanwhile, weathered a late rally by Alison Lee to eventually defeat the American on the first playoff hole and win the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.
But more important was a victory – anywhere, any victory – after a 27-month winless streak on the PGA Tour that started prompting questions about his game.
He broke with a 7-under par 63 for a six-shot victory at the Narashino Country Club just outside Tokyo, AP reported.
“These last few holes, I was quite excited to play, and you know, we always want to be putting ourselves in that position, in the contending position, week-in, week-out and I was lucky enough to do it this week,” Minjee Lee said. “It´s just really fun to play in those type of conditions and those situations.”
It was 27-year-old Minjee Lee’s 10th tour title and second win in her last three starts after claiming the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati in July. Sunday’s win makes her the third player from Australia to reach double digits in Tour victories, joining Jan Stephenson (16) and Karrie Webb (41).
America’s Lee is still searching for her first tour victory, but can count herself desperately unlucky after mounting a strong comeback to force what had appeared to be an unlikely playoff after making bogey at the 16th to trail Minjee Lee by two shots.
But clutch birdie putts at the 17th and 18th, to go with five other birdies and two bogeys, helped her finish with a 67 and draw level with the Australian, who had five birdies and a lone bogey in her round of 68.
“I feel really good about my game,” said Alison Lee. “I feel like I´m hitting it so well and I had so many putts this week lip out, and I can´t stop thinking about all those small mistakes that I potentially made.”
Defending champion Lydia Ko, a South Korean-born New Zealander, shot 69 to finish 14-under 274 and was two strokes behind in third place.
Angel Yin (67) followed her breakthrough win at the LPGA Shanghai event last week with a fourth-place finish at 13-under 275.
Celine Boutier, who won the Scottish Open and the Evian Championship back to back in August, finished in a five-player tie for fifth. Joining Boutier (70) at 12 under were Jodi Ewart Shadoff (65), Jeonguen Lee (67), Atthaya Thitikul (69) and Jiyai Shin (69).
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