(LEAD) S. Korean golfer Ji Eun-hee wins US Women's Open

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SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean golfer Ji Eun-hee birdied the last hole
to win the U.S. Women' Open title by one stroke, securing her second career LPGA
title on Sunday (U.S. time), tournament organizers said Monday.

The 23-year-old golfer finished even-par 284 at Saucon Valley Country Club in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, nudging Taiwan's Candie Kung for the trophy, the LPGA
said on its Web site.
Ji, who won the 2008 Wegman's title, will receive the winner's prize of $585,000.
She has become the fourth South Korean female golfer to grab the U.S. Open title,
following Pak Se-ri in 1998, Birdie Kim in 2005 and Park In-bee in 2008.
Starting the fourth round even-par trailing leader Cristie Kerr, the 2007
Champion, Ji hit two bogeys and a double bogey in the first ten holes, allowing
her rivals to take the top of the leaderboard.
With three birdies over the final six holes, however, Ji rolled the last and
decisive birdie into the center of the cup on the final hole, securing her first
ever grand slam tournament title.
Kung struggled to close the lead, hitting 2-under in the final round, but
finished at 1-over 285 for the runner-up position.
South Korean Kim In-kyung, who won the State Farm Classic trophy last month, tied
Kerr for third at 2-over 286, while Choi Na-yoen, Bae Kyeong and Park Hee-young
finished ninth with 5-over 289.
Ji's victory marks the sixth LPGA title claimed by South Korean female golfers in
the 2009 season, following Yi Eun-jung's win in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning
Classic last week.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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