Ji holds off Kerr to win US Open

FOURTH ROUND SCORES: (US unless stated)
E Eun Hee J (Kor) +1 C Kung (Tai) +2 C Kerr K In-Kyung (Kor)
Selected others: +8 L Davies (Eng) +9 L Ochoa (Mex) +14 K Stupples (Eng)

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Ji won the Wegman's LPGA in 2008

Eun Hee Ji won the US Women's Open on only her second attempt after outlasting 2007 champion Cristie Kerr.

The 23-year-old South Korean made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to finish off an even-par 71.

Ji saw off the challenge of playing partner and third-round leader Kerr, who was chasing a second Open title.

Britain's Laura Davies finished joint 17th at eight over after a closing 72, while world number one Lorena Ochoa was tied for 26th on nine over par.

"I didn't even dream about winning this tournament," said Ji. "I think this is going to be one of the most memorable moments in my life."

Ji recovered from two bogeys in her first four holes and a double-bogey at the 10th hole and made three birdies over the final six holes to finish at even-par 284 at Saucon Valley Country Club.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Ji's victory

Last year, Ji was joint 42nd at the US Women's Open but she triumphed in Pennsylvania to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Korean and 2008 winner Inbee Park.

Candie Kung of Taiwan had a two-under 69 and was alone in second at one-over 285. American Kerr, who held the lead until the back nine and shot a four-over 75, was joint third with In-Kyung Kim of South Korea at two over.

Ji felt the double-bogey at the 10th had a calming effect and she went on to make birdies at 13th, 14th and 18th.

"Up until that point, Cristie Kerr was so far ahead, I just didn't think anyone was going to be able to catch her," Ji added. "But after that double-bogey on number 10, I basically cleared my mind and said let's go and play out the rest of the round."

Ji punctuated her steady back-nine run on the final hole by driving into the centre of the fairway, landing her approach about 20 feet from the pin before coolly rolling the birdie try in.

Not playing the way I did the last three days, this golf course is pretty much all I can handle, and I just didn't play as well Cristie Kerr

Kerr, 2007 Women's Open champion, failed to reproduce the three workmanlike rounds that gave her the only under-par round in the first three days and a two-stroke lead over Ji heading into the final round.

Ji had a bogey on the first hole and at the third to get back to two-under, Kerr had back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth but dropped back with a bogey at the 13th.

Kerr rolled a birdie putt past the hole at the 16th and missed the putt coming back, settling for a bogey that dropped her to two-over and failed to make lengthy birdie putts at the 17th and 18th.

The former champion commented: "Not playing the way I did the last three days, this golf course is pretty much all I can handle, and I just didn't play as well."