|
 Park was impeccable in claiming her sixth major, running a
bogey-free streak to a remarkable 56 holes as she finished at a
tournament record-matching 19 under par with a 273 total to beat
fellow South Korean Kim Sei-young, who shot 71 for 278.
It was a triple treat for Park, who won the event for the third year
in a row, reclaimed the world number one ranking and avenged a
sudden-death defeat to Kim in April's Lotte Championship in Hawaii,
as she claimed the $525,000 prize.
"It feels amazing to win three times in a row," Park said after
matching the feat previously achieved by Sweden's Annika Sorenstam.
"I feel extremely honored, and I can't believe that I just did it.
"This is really a great accomplishment in my career. Obviously
there's a lot more things to do from now on but this is definitely
one of the greatest accomplishments I've ever had."
The 26-year-old Park, winner of five of the last 12 women's majors
played since 2013, began the day with a two-shot lead over Kim, an
LPGA Tour rookie who has won twice this season.
Large galleries followed the Korean duel through the hills of the
Westchester layout to watch a to-and-fro tussle in which Park built
a four-shot lead by the fourth hole that shrank to one after Kim ran
off four birdies in a row from the fifth.
But as she had done on Saturday with a four-putt bogey at the last
hole, Kim imploded by taking four putts at the par-five ninth for a
double bogey that dropped her four back as Park birdied.
The ultra-steady Park was never again threatened.
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"In-bee was very (solid) today, and I tried to find the chance to
get close to her, but I didn't have my A Game to get there today,"
said Kim, who chipped in to force a playoff with Park in Hawaii two
months ago and won it by holing out from 154 yards.
As a consolation, Kim also leapfrogged previous world number one New
Zealander Lydia Ko into number two in the rankings.
Lexi Thompson fired a 66 to charge into third at 12-under, one
better than Brittany Lincicome (68), winner of the year's first
major, the ANA Inspiration.
Morgan Pressel (70) and 17-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson (71)
tied for fifth on 282.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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