MELBOURNE, Australia — Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, bogeying only two of 72 holes, successfully defended her Women’s Australian Open title, shooting a final-round 2-under 71 Sunday to win by seven strokes.
Tseng finished with a four-round total of 16-under-par 276 on the par-73 Commonwealth Golf Club course. No. 1-ranked Jiyai Shin was tied for second with two others. Shin shot a final-round 75, level with South Korean Ji Eun-hee (74), and England’s Melissa Reid, who shot 68.
Jennifer Song of the United States finished fifth after a 71, nine strokes behind Tseng.
Four-time champion Karrie Webb shot 70 Sunday, 11 behind Tseng. Laura Davies of England shot 74 and finished at 290, 14 strokes behind the winner.
The 22-year-old Tseng, a three-time major winner and voted the 2010 LPGA player of the year, ran away from the field in the final round.
“It’s always been my goal to be No.1 and I think I’m getting a little closer,” said Tseng.” I hit the ball very solid this week every day. I felt really good with my swing and feel very confident. Just need to bring that confidence to my whole year.”