Choi Hye-jin ties for third at Buick LPGA Shanghai

Choi Hye-jin [AFP/YONHAP]

Choi Hye-jin managed a joint third finish with a 13-under-par, 275, at the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Sunday, missing a chance to win her first-ever LPGA title.

The tournament at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, China was the 2023 LPGA’s first Asian swing event of the fall.

Choi was in joint 24th place on moving day, but she carded a bogey-free eight-under-par, 64, on the last day for a final score of 13-under-par, 275, claiming the top spot briefly.

Lilia Vu then finished later with a 14-under-par, 274, pushing Choi down to third place and tying with Angel Yin, forcing a playoff.

It was the second playoff between Vu and Yin this season, after they competed in the playoff at the Chevron Championship in April when Vu took the victory.

This time, Yin made a birdie on the par-4 18th hole and claimed her first-ever victory on the tour, while Vu carded a par and missed an opportunity to secure her fourth LPGA title.

Esther Henseleit of Germany, Yu Liu of China and Ariya Jutanugarn and Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand tied for third alongside Choi.

Sunday’s finish was Choi’s best finish of the season so far, with a joint eighth at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in June being her previous best.

Lee Mi-hyang tied for 13th with an 11-under-par, 277, and managed the second best finish among Korean golfers.

Three Korean golfers have secured a title this season so far, with Ko Jin-young claiming two wins at HSBC Women’s World Championship in March and Cognizant Founders Cup in May, Ryu Hae-ran winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and Kim Hyo-joo securing a title at the Volunteers of America Classic on Oct. 8.

The tour will continue as it visits Korea on Oct. 19, where the BMW Ladies Championship takes place in Paju, Gyeonggi.

About one month of the tour schedule remains with the CME Group Tour Championship being the last official tournament of the season.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]