Hot start propels Shin to HSBC win champs

SINGAPORE – South Korea’s Jiyai Shin birdied her first four holes Sunday to set up her fourth LPGA tour victory at the $2 million HSBC Women’s Champions.

Shin, who takes home a $300,000 winner’s check, shot a final round 66 to finish the tournament at 11-under 277, two shots ahead of Australia’s Katherine Hull (74) at the Tanah Merah Country Club course.

Shin lived up to her nickname “Final Round Queen,” a moniker she said her fans gave her after regularly coming from behind to win.

The victory was 20-year-old Shin’s first as an LPGA member. She won three LPGA tour events earlier as a member of the Korean and Japanese LPGAs.

“I’m very surprised and very happy,” said the 5-foot-2 Shin, who also had a 66 on Saturday to thrust herself into contention after a moderate opening two rounds. “I can’t believe I birdied the first four holes.”

Hull led going into the final day by two shots, and two birdies on the front nine put her four strokes ahead at the turn. Her title hopes began to evaporate when she bogeyed the 10th, then on the 13th she shanked her tee shot into the crowd en route to a double bogey, dropping her into a share of the lead.

“I made a really bad choice on 13,” Hull said. “I broke my game plan so I got what I deserved.

“I decided at the start of the week to hit 3-wood off that tee. I hit a driver and it was the wrong choice. I was too greedy and overconfident.”               (AP)