Jang continues South Korean dominance

Jeong Jang, the reigning Weetabix Women’s British Open Champion, continued a run of South Korean dominance on the LPGA Tour when she won the Wegmans LPGA in Rochester, New York.

On 13-under par 275, the 26-year-old finished a shot ahead of teenage Paraguayan rookie, Julieta Granada, who birdied the last from four feet for a 67.

Brittany Lang, with a 71, and fellow American Marcy Hart, who bogeyed the 18th for a 69, tied for third on 11 under par.

This was the fourth South Korean victory in a row and the eighth out of the 15 tournaments played on the LPGA circuit this season. This week, another Korean, Birdie Kim, defends the US Women’s Open.

Jang led from start to finish to win the British Open at Royal Birkdale last year and she went into the final round today with a one-shot lead.

Lang, who finished joint second as an amateur in last year’s US Women’s Open, did manage to briefly move one ahead with the help of four first half birdies, including three in a row from the third.

But she dropped shots at the 13th and 14th and Jang responded with close-range birdies at the 13th and 17th to regain control and enjoy the perfect warm-up for the third major of the season, the US Women’s Open, starting on Thursday at Newport, Rhode Island.

England’s Johanna Head, the only British player to make the cut, closed with a level par 72 and tied for 65th place on four over 282.

Italy’s Silvia Cavalleri was the leading European player in a share of 10th place on eight under par after a closing 72.