Mie, Japan – Stacy Lewis fired an 8-under 64 on Sunday to rally and win the Mizuno Classic by one stroke.
Lewis, the second-ranked player in the world, finished at 11-under-par 205. This was her fourth win of the season, and her third straight top-6 finish at this tournament.
"I felt it was coming yesterday. I played really solid yesterday, I just didn't make any putts. But to makes those three putts I made coming down the stretch was unbelievable," Lewis said. "I didn't really think I was playing this well coming into the week, but I just started playing better and better every day. Putts just started falling today and it was meant to be."
Second-round leader Bo-Mee Lee managed an even-par 72 to end alone in second place at minus-10 at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club.
Ayako Uehara carded a 5-under 67 to grab third place at 9-under-par 207.
Women's world No. 1 Yani Tseng posted a 68 in the final round to take fourth place at minus-7.
Lewis was seven back to start the day. She got going with birdies on one and two, but tripped to a bogey on the third. Lewis erased that error with a birdie on the par-4 fourth.
Last year's Kraft Nabisco champion had four pars and a birdie in the last five holes of the opening nine. Lewis made the turn at minus-6, but she still trailed by five strokes.
Lewis, who started three groups ahead of the second-round leader, traded a birdie for a bogey from the 10th. She flew up the leaderboard from there.
At the 12th, Lewis converted a birdie effort and made it two in a row as she also birdied the par-5 13th to get to 8-under. She was within one, and remained there with pars on 14 and 15.
Lewis birdied the par-5 16th to again get within one of Lee. Lewis joined Lee at minus-10 as she birdied the par-3 17th. Lewis made it three in a row to finish the round as she birdied the last to grab the lead.
After that, it was off to the clubhouse for Lewis to wait and see if anyone could catch her, and no one did.
"I was trying to win the tournament this week, but I figured everything will just take care of itself," said Lewis, when asked about the Player of the Year race. "I just got in my own way these past couple of weeks, but these last two rounds, this is the most fun I've had all year. So it's been a great couple of days."
Lee had a bogey and four pars in the first five holes. She looked to pull away with back-to-back birdies at six and seven, which moved Lee to 11-under, where she led by three.
Around the turn, Lee gave those shots back as she stumbled to bogeys at 10 and 11. Lee got back to even-par for her round and 10-under for the tournament with a birdie on the par-5 13th. That is where she ended thanks to five consecutive pars to close out her round.
"I'm kind of sad about today's round," Lee admitted. "I gave myself less chances for birdie. I missed some short putts, so that's disappointing."
NOTES: Lewis, who earned $180,000 for the win, will remain No. 2 on the money list and No. 2 in the world rankings ... Last year's winner Momoko Ueda faltered to a 73 in the final round and ended in a tie for 27th at minus-2 ... The tour heads to Mexico next week for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, where Catriona Matthew won by four shots last year.
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