Golf:Japan's Ai Miyazato today held off the challenge of American Stacy Lewis to claim her second Evian Masters title in France.
Miyazato took a two-shot lead into the final round and carded a closing 70 for a 15-under-par total of 273.
That was enough to finish two clear of Lewis, who also returned a 70, from Japan’s Miki Saiki, Korea’s In Kyung Kim and American Angela Stanford.
Miyazato made the perfect start today with three birdies in the first eight holes taking the 26-year-old to the turn in 33.
Bogeys at the 12th and 14th gave the chasing pack hope, but Miyazato could afford to close with four straight pars to seal the win.
The 5’2” Japanese star, small in stature but with a large heart and an abundance of talent, vowed to gift at least some of her bumper €363,079.68 first prize cheque, if not all, to the victims of the earthquake that devastated northern Japan in March.
“I haven't decided yet what to do exactly, whether it'll be all the amount or a sum of it, but I'll definitely be making donations from this earning,” said Miyazato.
Miyazato won five times on the LPGA Tour last season and briefly held the world number one spot, but she admitted she had found it hard to focus on her game this season, as she was feeling for her friends in Sendai, where she attended high school.
“It's feeling amazing, you know. This is my favourite tournament, so I really happy that could win this tournament again.”
