Mi Hyang Lee, 32, secured her third LPGA Tour title at the Blue Bay LPGA, marking her first victory in over eight years. The South Korean golfer, who battled a shoulder injury and an early stumble in her final round, ultimately finished one stroke ahead of her closest competitor, China's Weiwei Zhang. This win positions Lee as the 24th South Korean player to achieve at least three LPGA victories.
The final moments of the tournament saw Lee navigate a challenging closing stretch. After an opening nine that included two double bogeys, Lee managed to regain her footing. Her decisive birdie on the 18th hole, a par-5, sealed the victory. This was a crucial play, especially as Zhang, who had briefly shared the lead earlier, bogeyed the 17th hole.
Zhang finished in second place at 10 under par, securing her fourth top-10 finish this season. Also notable were the performances of Auston Kim from the USA and Aditi Ashok of India, who tied for third place at 8 under par.
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The Blue Bay LPGA event, held at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Hainan Island, China, is part of the LPGA's initial Asia swing for the season. Lee entered the final day with a three-shot advantage. Her final round score was a 1-over 73. The decisive shot to secure her win came from 75 yards out, using a 58-degree wedge that landed within two feet of the pin.
This victory breaks a significant drought for Lee, whose previous LPGA wins occurred more than eight years prior. The Blue Bay tournament marked the third consecutive LPGA event on this Asian leg of the tour.