Shin holds off Tseng to win Mizuno

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November 7, 2010

Jiyai Shin has cemented her hold on the World No 1 crown she regained last week when she won the Mizuno Classic.

Jiyai Shin cemented her hold on the World No 1 crown she regained last week when she won the Mizuno Classic in Shima, Japan, on Sunday.

The bespectacled Korean star closed with a 5-under 67 to win by two shots from Chinese Taipei’s Yani Tseng and claim her second LPGA Tour victory of the season and her eighth overall,

Shin ended her successful run in this 54-hole event on the Kintetsu Kashikojima course.at 18 under after opening with rounds of 65 and 66 to take away a cheque for $180,000.

That amount stretch her season’s tally to $1,779,768 and took her to within $3,535 of Tou money leader Na Yeon Choi with just two events left in the season.

“This morning I felt I was a little bit rushed, because I won at the Evian but in the last couple of months I didn’t win,” Shin said. “I have had a lot of chances, but I didn’t win. I am waiting all the time for the win. So this morning I felt pressure.

“The first hole I made a birdie and after that I got more confident. But Yani was playing very well.”

Tseng, like Shin, a major winner, shot an a sizzling 66 in her unsuccessful chase for the winners trophy.

“I really tried my best to bring my A-game golf today,” said Tseng, a three-time winner this year. “I think I did that very well. Jiyai just played so consistently and she is the greatest player on tour. A very good, competitive player.”

Stacy Lewis (68) was third at 15 under, Miki Saiki (70) was 12 under, and Choi (68), Brittany Lincicome (65) and Mika Miyazato (68) followed at 11 under.

Tseng currently leads Japanese star Ai Miyazato by 14 points in the player of the year race with Shin and Choi are tied for third, 18 points behind Tseng.

Shin said she would not be playing in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational next week in Mexico.

“I am going to take it easy for the next couple of weeks and then head to LPGA Tour Championship,” she explained.

“I want to play well there because the Tour Championship is the last tournament of the year. If I play good there it will make a warm winter.”

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