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Lee storms to Lotte victory

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minjee Lee of Australia hit from the 18th fairway during Saturday’s final round of the Lotte Championship LPGA golf tournament at Ko Olina.

Minjee Lee fired an 8-under-par 64 and erased a five-stroke deficit to win the Lotte Championship today at Ko Olina Golf Club.

Lee, 19, played Ko Olina’s back nine at 6 under to edge Katie Burnett and In Gee Chun by one stroke at 16-under 272.

Lee began the day five shots behind Burnett at 8 under after shooting a 74 on Friday and made a 10-shot improvement to earn her second win on the LPGA Tour.

“Yesterday I spoke to my coach and he was like, ‘You’re only five back. Just shoot 8 under and you’ll be fine,’” Lee said. “And I shot 8 under, so that was good.”

Burnett entered the final round with a one-shot lead and held on late into the round before Lee tied her at 16 under with a birdie putt on No. 17. Burnett bogeyed No. 16 to drop a shot behind Lee and her birdie putt on 17 lipped out.

Lee parred No. 18 to cap her bogey-free round two groups ahead of Burnett and Chun, who went into No. 18 needing birdies to tie. Both came up short.

Punahou graduate Stephanie Kono finished her week with a 7-under 65 to finish at 4 under for the tournament and tied for 33rd.

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