CATRIONA MATTHEW HAS TOP TEN FINISH ON LPGA TOUR

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE

Japan's Ai Miyazato won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in dramatic finish on Sunday.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew earned $36,950 for a jt 10th place finish.

At the top of the leaderboard, a play-off looked likely as Ai Miyazato hit her third shot on the 18th hole to about four feet from the flag and made no mistake with her putt to move to 12-under.

Her nearest rival, fellow Japanese player Mika Miyazato (no relation), who had also been at 12-under, missed a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole to leave her namesake the winner by one shot with a three-round total of 201.

After starting the final round five shots behind leader Veronica Felibert, Ai Miyazato put together a string of four birdies on the front nine to put herself into title contention.

Following the turn, two birdies gave her a share of the lead with close friend Mika Miyazato.

The victory is the second for Ai Miyazato this year as she won the LPGA LOTTE Championship in April.

The win moves her up three places to third in the world golf rankings.

With this year marking her fifth trip to Arkansas, Ai Miyazato felt the community presence as she worked towards her victory.

"It's always nice to be here," she said.

"It's always fun to play this tournament because I know there's so many golf fans over here, so the spectators are always great and all the volunteers always do things for the players and they do a great job."

Mika Miyazato finished equal second with Azahara Munoz after three-round totals of 202 while Inbee Park and Felibert were equal fifth on 203.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
201 Ai Miyazato (Japan) 68 68 65 ($300,000)
202 Azahara Munoz (Spain) 69 68 65, Mika Miyazato (Japan) 70 65 67 ($159,739 each).
SELECTED TOTALS
207 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 69 68 70 (T10) ($36,950).
211 Jodi Ewart (England) 73 70 68 (T28) ($15,028)
213 Becky Morgan (Wales) 70 73 70 (T43) ($7,645)

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