Yuri Yoshida edges Haeran Ryu in South Korea for first LPGA win

HAENAM, South Korea — In a thrilling finale at the BMW Ladies Championship, Yuri Yoshida emerged victorious, defeating Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi by a single stroke. This marked Yoshida's first LPGA Tour win. Ryu, the overnight leader, and Yoshida both bogeyed the final hole, leaving Yoshida by one stroke ahead with a four-round total of 17-under 271.

Yoshida had been four shots behind the leaders going into the final round but showcased her skill on the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 second, followed by three consecutive birdies that brought her to 5-under 31. Bogeys at the 15th and 18th holes were counterbalanced by a crucial birdie at the 17th, which gave Yoshida the advantage she needed.

Ryu, despite leading by four strokes into the final round, couldn't replicate her rhythm on Sunday, finishing at 16-under 272 after shooting 73. Both Ryu and Yoshida made birdie at the 17th, but a costly miss for Ryu on the 18th hole allowed Yoshida to clinch the win, despite Ryu also making a bogey. Hye-Jin Choi, who was tied for second coming into the final round, remained in contention throughout Sunday, mixing four birdies with a lone bogey to finish at 16-under 272, just one shot behind Yoshida, tying for second place with Ryu.

Choi, still searching for her first victory in 125 LPGA Tour starts, finished a shot behind Yoshida in the race for her maiden win. Last week in Shanghai, Choi narrowly missed her first LPGA Tour win by one stroke to China's Ruoning Yin, who had taken the lead after each of the first three rounds. Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who ended a five-year title drought in 2025 with victory in South Korea, shot 70 on Sunday and finished at 2-under 286, tying for 55th place.

The LPGA Tour's late-season Asian swing continues next week with the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking the third of four events.