27! YANG POSTS RECORD BACK NINE

Amy Yang made nine consecutive birdies over the back nine Sunday to post the lowest nine-hole score in relation to par in Tour history. Yang’s 9-under-par 27 also ties the lowest nine-hole score in history and her nine consecutive birdies ties Beth Daniel’s previous LPGA best of nine, which she set during the second round of the 1999 Philips Invitational Honoring Harvey Penick.

“Oh, my gosh, I just told them, I never thought about it. Never thought about it,” Yang said. “I don’t know what just happened. I mean, if it can be a history, so honored.”

It was hard for anyone to fathom what just happened Sunday. Yang’s 62 also ties the tournament record here, which was previously set Monday by Sung Hyun Park. Yang had shot 62 twice before but never on this stage. Her first 62 came when she was 16 in a club championship and her second came in a mini-tour event in Orlando before she made it onto the LPGA.

But she had never shot a 27 and never made nine consecutive birdies.

“I think six in a row was my best,” Yang said. “That’s the first time. Shots were great. Early in the week I was shaky, but I don’t know, this back nine was crazy good, plus putting.”

FEELING LIKE OLD

Yani Tseng made birdie at the last but finished just one shot shy of Lexi Thompson. Still, Tseng’s sure of one thing heading out of this week: a win is coming her way sooner than later.

“Getting closer and closer. I’m very feeling good about my game today and actually the whole week,” Tseng said. “I know I left some shots out there, but I do my best on every putt, every shot. I didn’t give up any away. Still try to do my best to win the game and to fight to the end.”

Tseng’s now posted a top-five finish in three of her last four starts, including runner-up finishes in two of the three. Now, Tseng heads home to Taiwan feeling like the Yani of Old. She can’t describe what’s changed in her game, she just knows it feels like it used to before the two-year slide.

“Just being back where I am. It’s better where I am I think. Just very happy working with my mental coach, my trainer, my coach,” Tseng said. “Everything just kind of get together and just want to thank some of the people that they are believing in me and trust me that I can still can win a tournament. I’m just looking forward to win. I came to Asia for these five weeks and looking for a win. I know every week is getting close, and next week in Taiwan, it would be a great win in Taiwan.”

Tseng said there were very few swing changes undergone with her new coach, Claude Harmon. It’s just go out there and play and quit worrying about positions, etc. It’s showing.

TWO SHOTS AWAY FROM NO. 1

Lydia Ko’s bid for the world No. 1 ranking came up just two shots short of overtaking Inbee Park. Based off of where Park finished, Ko would have needed to finish in a two-way tie for second but fell into a tie for fourth when she was unable to get up and down for birdie at the last.

Inbee Park finished in a tie for 15th, and the two are now dead even in the Rolex Player of the Year points. Ko now leads the Race to the CME Globe, Vare Trophy, and money list standings.

Ko is in the field next week at the FUBON LPGA Taiwan Championship, but Park is not because of a prior sponsor commitment. However, both will be in the field in two weeks at the Blue Bay LPGA.

TWO SHOTS AWAY FROM NO. 1

Suzann Pettersen finished an uncharacteristic T-55 last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia after two opening rounds of 77. But she found it on the weekend in Malaysia with rounds of 66 and 67 and she carried that over in South Korea. Pettersen posted a tie for 7th and had a chance to make an eagle and tie Thompson on 18 but hit an unfortunate drive that squashed her chances.

“I played pretty good today,” Pettersen said. “I had one bad drive and it came on 18. Had to play an unplayable. But overall, pretty good.”

It is Pettersen’s seventh top-10 of the season and first in five starts.

“It’s a good step in the right direction,” she said.

News and Notes: Final Round LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship

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