Kang beats Hall of Famer to win on the LPGA

Kang beats Hall of Famer to win on the LPGA

JIMIN Kang won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia for her second LPGA Tour golf title, beating Juli Inkster by a stroke yesterday when the 50-year-old Hall of Famer bogeyed the final hole.

Kang, the 30-year-old South Korean player, birdied the par-four 18th for a six-under 65 and a nine-under total at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Inkster finished with her second straight 67. She birdied the 15th-17th to take the lead, but couldn’t hold on in her bid to break the LPGA Tour age record of 46 years, eight months set by Beth Daniel in the 2003 Canadian Women’s Open.

Sweden’s Maria Hjorth (71) and Japan’s Mika Miyazato (69) tied for third at six-under, and South Korea’s Meena Lee (69) was five-under.

Michelle Wie shot a 74 to tie for 34th at three over.

Kang, also the 2005 LPGA Corning Classic winner, birdied three of the last four holes. She earned $270000 in the inaugural event.