Suzann Pettersen wins Taiwan Championship

(AP) Suzann Pettersen wins Taiwan Championship
YANG MEI, Taiwan
Suzann Pettersen won the Taiwan Championship on Sunday for her second straight LPGA Tour victory, rallying to beat Inbee Park by three strokes.

Pettersen closed with a 3-under 69 in wind and drizzle on the at Sunrise course. The Norwegian finished with a 19-under 269 and earned $300,000 for her 10th LPGA Tour title.

“It is a great win for me, especially coming back from behind in tough conditions like today,” Pettersen said. “I just focused on every shot and stuck to my game plan.”

Last week in South Korea, she beat Catriona Matthew in a playoff.

“I tee it up every week to try and win,” Pettersen said. “Obviously, winning last week gave me perhaps a bit more confidence believing that what I do is the right thing. … I don’t think I’ve enjoyed myself so much on the golf course like I have the last three or four weeks, so I think that might be a huge part of it. Really playing with my heart, playing with my instinct, even on the last shot. Just being aggressive.”

Park shot a 74. The South Korean won two weeks ago in Malaysia for her second victory of the year and leads the money list.

“Today, I hit the ball good, I think,” Park said. “Just, putts just didn’t fall. I mean I holed a lot of putts the last three days, so I guess today was just unlucky day. Just try to take the things from this week and go on to next week.”

Local favorite Yani Tseng had a 71 to finish third at 15 under. The top-ranked Taiwanese player won the event last year.

“I really enjoyed this week to coming back home and play the LPGA tournament here,” Tseng said. ” So many fans out here to cheer for me and to give me 100 percent support, so I really, really appreciate that. I can’t wait to come back next year to play well.”

She won three of the first five tour events this year, then struggled before finishing third in the last two events.

“I know I didn’t finish where I wanted to, but it’s getting better and I think it’s getting better slowly, so I’m very happy what I play right now,” Tseng said. “I always have something that I can improve on like every day, so I’m very happy to see my game right now and feel very confident and going to play Japan next week, so hopefully I’ll have a good week, too.”

Matthew was fourth at 14 under after a 70.

Cristie Kerr was the only American in the top 12, shooting a 73 to tie for sixth at 9 under. Michelle Wie had a 76 to tie for 23rd at 1 under.