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Sports

Lu rallies to win Mizuno Classic by 2

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Mie, Japan (SportsNetwork.com) - Teresa Lu fired an 8-under 64 on Sunday to rally and win the Mizuno Classic.

Lu, who won for the first time on the LPGA Tour, finished at 14-under-par 202.

"I've been waiting for this day for so long," said Lu. "This is my first win, it's been eight years on Tour. I'm really happy. Really nervous and really happy."

Chella Choi closed with a 6-under 66 to take second place at minus-12. Mamiko Higa and Yuki Ichinose, two of the three second-round co-leaders, posted 2- under 70s and shared third place at 10-under-par 206.

"I think I had very good confidence today," said Choi. "I just think, OK one putt, just one stroke. So I think birdie and focus. I don't know why, not nervous. I think good experience for me."

Shiho Oyama, the other second-round co-leader, managed a 1-under 71 in the final round. She ended alongside Yumiko Yoshida (68) at minus-9.

Asako Fujimoto posted a 1-under 71 on Sunday to finish alone in seventh at 8- under 208 at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club. Stacy Lewis, last year's winner, shot 2-under 70 to end in a 3-way tie for eighth at minus-7.

Lu was three shots off the pace when she made the turn. She got going with birdies on the first and third. Lu moved to minus-9 with a birdie on the par-5 seventh, but stumbled to a bogey on the ninth to head to the back nine at minus-8.

Choi, who was in the third-to-last group, also birdied the first. She poured in three birdies in a 4-hole span from the fourth to jump into the lead at minus-10.

She closed the front nine with a birdie on No. 9 that moved her to 11-under. Choi was two clear of the field, and three ahead of Lu at that point.

However, Choi started the back nine with six consecutive pars.

Lu, who was in the penultimate group, started the back nine with a birdie on the par-3 11th. She followed with a birdie at 12 and another at 13 to grab a share of the lead.

The 26-year-old converted her fourth straight birdie at the 14th to grab a 1- stroke lead.

Choi ended her string of pars with a birdie at the par-5 16th. That gave her a piece of the lead at 12-under, but she parred the last two holes to end there.

Lu, who parred 15 and 16, responded with a birdie on the par-3 17th to regain the lead. She closed the tournament in style with another birdie at the last to win by two.

"I knew I have to go lower and get more birdies otherwise I was going to get in a playoff," Lu said of her final two holes. "It's better not a playoff. So I focus on the birdie."

NOTES: Lu, who earned $180,000 for the win, gave up her LPGA Tour membership after the 2010 season ... She became the 10th non-member to win the title ... The victory was Lu's first as a professional ... The LPGA Tour heads to Mexico next week as Cristie Kerr defends her title at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.