Yoshida makes up 4-shot deficit to record first LPGA Tour victory

HAENAM, South Korea -- Yuri Yoshida won the LPGA South Korea tournament after holding off Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi in a close finish at Pine Beach Golf Links on Sunday.

It was Yoshida's first LPGA Tour victory and came in a dramatic finish as both overnight leader Haeran Ryu and Yoshida bogeyed the final hole, leaving the Japanese player ahead by one stroke and a four-round total of 17-under 271.

Yoshida was four shots off the pace going into Sunday's final round but lit up the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 second followed by three consecutive birdies to be 5-under 31 at the turn. Bogeys at the 15th and 18th was offset by a crucial birdie at the 17th that gave the 26-year-old the buffer she needed.

Ryu led the tournament by four strokes going into the final round but couldn't find the same rhythm Sunday as she shot a 73 to finish at 16-under 272. The South Korean player made 15 consecutive pars before dropping a crucial shot at the par-4 16th that handed Yoshida a one-shot advantage.

Both players made birdies at the 17th, but a costly miss for Ryu at the 18th allowed Yoshida to clinch it despite her also making bogey.

Hye-Jin Choi, who was in a tie for second coming in the final round, stayed in contention throughout Sunday and mixed four birdies with a lone bogey to finish at 16-under 272, a shot behind Yoshida in a tie for second with Ryu.

Choi is still looking for her first victory in 125 career LPGA Tour starts as a member. She has held or shared a 54-hole lead five times in her LPGA career without converting it into a win.

Last week in Shanghai, Choi was the runner-up by one stroke to China's Ruoning Yin after the South Korean golfer led after each of the first three rounds.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who ended a five-year victory drought in 2025 with the victory, shot a 70 on Sunday and finished at 2-under 286 and in a tie for 55th.

In its late-season Asian swing, the LPGA Tour moves to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next week for the Maybank Championship, the third of four events.