Eun-Hee Ji got her first win on the LPGA Tour with a come-from-behind, two-stroke victory over Suzann Pettersen at the Wegmans LPGA on Sunday. The South Korean shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 16-under 272 at the tricky Locust Hill course. A 22-year-old in her second year on the tour, Ji had a previous best finish of second to Pettersen in South Korea in October in the Kolon Championship. Pettersen shot a 72 and surrendered a three-stroke lead on a sunny, 75-degree day. Ji got in front for the first time with a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 15, where Pettersen missed a 5-footer for par.

Cristie Kerr (69), preparing for her title defense in the U.S. Women’s Open, finished fifth at 11 under, two ahead of top-ranked Lorena Ochoa (69), Christina Kim (68), Japan’s Ai Miyazato (72) and South Korean Inbee Park (74). Ochoa, a six-time winner this year, won in Rochester in 2005 and 2007. With $2 million in season earnings, she extended her lead over Annika Sorenstam (69) to more than a half-million dollars. The Swede, who finished at 2 under in a tie for 33rd, is stepping away from the tour at the end of the season. Michelle Wie closed with a 68 to tie for 24th at 4 under.

Ji already had ties for fourth and ninth this year and earned $300,000 in the $2 million tournament to surge from 42nd to 10th on the money list with $471,413. In just four events last year, she also earned a tie for fifth at the Women’s British Open. She took up golf at age 13 and won the Korea Women’s Amateur Championship in 2003.

Pettersen’s three-shot lead dissolved over the first three holes. Ji opened with a 12-foot birdie putt and Pettersen bogeyed No. 2, her approach shot obstructed by a tree. Ji deftly chipped in from the back fringe on No. 3 to draw level. Pettersen’s chip to 3 feet from thick rough in front of the par-5 eighth got her two ahead again. She restored her three-stroke cushion when she sank a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 11 and Ji missed from 5 feet on the next hole. The momentum swung back when Ji made a 30-foot birdie on No. 13 and Pettersen drove into the left rough and failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker. After Ji moved into the lead at No. 15, both players birdied the par-5 17th. Ji extended her lead to two with a tap-in on the final green after Pettersen missed from 5 feet for par.

Tags: WOMEN AND GOLF //