SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) -South Korea's Jenny Shin captured her second LPGA Tour title on Sunday, ending a wait of more than 10 years and extending Korean players' winning streak to three consecutive events ahead of the season's final major.
Shin carded a 3-over-par 75 in the final round of the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland, to finish at 9-under 279.
The 33-year-old held off compatriot A Lim Kim, who closed with a 4-under 68 to finish two shots behind at 7 under. Shin earned $300,000 in prize money.
It was Shin's first LPGA victory since the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in May 2016, bringing an end to a title drought of 10 years and two months.
"My first one didn't really feel like a win at the time," Shin said. "I didn't feel like I deserved it. It felt very accidental. But this one definitely feels a lot different. This one feels like I earned it. I worked hard for it."
Shin entered the final round with a five-shot lead over Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn after leading or sharing the lead throughout the tournament.
She briefly stretched her advantage to eight shots after opening with five straight pars, but the lead quickly narrowed as she made three consecutive bogeys from the sixth hole.
Strong winds and errant tee shots tested Shin on the links course, and Anannarukarn pulled within two shots after making birdie at the ninth.
Shin steadied herself at the par-4 10th, where she made her first birdie of the day as Anannarukarn dropped a shot, restoring a four-stroke cushion.
Another birdie at the 12th pushed Shin four shots clear of Kim, who had moved into second place with a late charge.
Shin bogeyed the 16th and encountered more trouble at the par-5 18th when her tee shot landed in thick rough. She chose a conservative approach and closed with a bogey, which was still enough to secure the two-shot victory.
She broke into tears after the final putt and was showered with water and champagne by fellow players and friends.
"I wasn't as nervous as yesterday," Shin said. "I feel like I've done everything right, but I just wasn't hitting it like I was the last three days."
"With three bogeys in a row, I thought, 'Oh boy, I don't know where this is going to go.' But I hung in there, so I'm quite proud of myself and very happy."
The victory continued a strong run by South Korean players on the LPGA Tour. Hae Ran Ryu won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship late last month and followed it with another major title at the Amundi Evian Championship two weeks ago.
South Koreans have now won the tour's past three events and six tournaments this season. Hyo Joo Kim earlier won the Founders Cup and Ford Championship, while Mi Hyang Lee claimed the Blue Bay LPGA title.
Shin became the third South Korean to win the Women's Scottish Open following Mi Hyang Lee in 2017 and Mi Jung Hur in 2019.
The latest victory also raised expectations for another Korean challenge at the AIG Women's Open, the season's final major, which begins Thursday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
Kim's runner-up finish was her best result of the season. Anannarukarn shot a 74 and finished third at 5-under 283.
Hye Jin Choi carded the day's best round, a 5-under 67, to finish tied for 13th with Amy Yang at 1-over 289.
Hyo Joo Kim made par on all 18 holes and tied world No. 1 Nelly Korda for 16th at 2-over 290. Sei Young Kim tied for 19th, while Ina Yoon finished tied for 28th.
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