![Mi Hyang Lee won an LPGA Tour event for the first time in 8 years and 8 months. [Photo=Yonhap/Reuters]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/03/08/20260308233314471964.jpg)
Lee shot a 1-over 73 in the final round at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course (par 72) in Hainan province, mixing five birdies with two bogeys and two double bogeys in the $2.6 million event.
She finished at 11-under 277, edging Zhang Weiwei of China (10-under 278) by one shot. Lee earned $390,000 (about 580 million won).
Lee, who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2012, won her first title at the 2014 Mizuno Classic and last won in July 2017 at the Scotland Open. Saturday’s victory was her third career LPGA title.
She also became the first South Korean winner of the 2026 LPGA season, which opened in late January.
“I had forgotten what it feels like to win, so I wanted to feel it again,” Lee said in a postround interview with a local broadcaster. “I stayed patient with my caddie. I really wanted to win.”
“I’ve had a lot of difficulties over the past few years,” she said, thanking her father, caddie, coach, friends and family. She added that fellow players on tour had consistently encouraged her, saying, “This win is something they made possible.”
Hyejin Choi finished tied for fifth at 7-under 281 alongside A Lim Kim, Yu Liu of China and Rio Takeda of Japan.
Rookie Yu-min Hwang tied for 18th at 1-under 287 with Ji-eun Shin among others. Rookie Dong-eun Lee, making her LPGA Tour debut, tied for 39th at 4-over 292.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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