Sandra Gal birdied the final hole to win the LPGA Kia Classic on Sunday, becoming the second German winner in LPGA Tour history with her triumph over world No. 2 Jiyai Shin.

Gal, 25, claimed the trophy when she sank her birdie putt from inside two feet at the final hole to complete a two-under 71 for a 16-under total of 276 at Industry Hills Golf Club east of downtown Los Angeles.

Shin, an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour and a former world No. 1, closed with an even par 73 for 277.

"I had the belief coming out this morning that I could win," Gal said. "I thought I could do it. I just tried to play the course instead of Jiyai."

Cristie Kerr shot a 66 to tie for third with South Korea's Kim In-kyung (70) at 11-under 281.

Shin started the day with a one-shot lead over Gal, but she dropped back with three bogeys on the front nine. Her struggles on the green were epitomized at the second hole, where she missed a two-footer for par.

"My putter was not working good," Shin said. "I had a lot of chances for birdies but didn't make them."

Trailing by as many as two strokes, Shin pulled even at the par-three 13th where she birdied as Gal made her only bogey of the day.

Shin edged one shot ahead with a birdie at 15, but Gal answered with a birdie at 16 and they arrived at the par-five 18th tied at 15-under.

After Shin put her third shot within five feet, Gal's wedge into the green rolled within inches of the pin and stopped less than two feet from the cup.

AFP

(China Daily 03/29/2011 page23)