Choi trumps Tseng for Malaysia title

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Na Yeon Choi bested world No. 1 Yani Tseng by a stroke on Sunday to earn her first win of the year at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

Choi shot a three-under 68 on Sunday to finish at 15-under 269. Tseng fired a six-under 66, but came up one shot short at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

For the second week in a row, the title came down to this pair.

Tseng, who played in the group ahead of Choi, reached 12-under par with a birdie at the 11th. That birdie tied her with Choi, but when Choi birdied the par-five 12th, she inched one clear.

Tseng once again tied for first with a birdie at the par-three 15th, but Choi followed her in the final group with a birdie of her own at the same hole. Tseng birdied No. 16 to pull even, but missed a birdie chance at the par-three 17th.

Choi knocked her tee ball to five feet at the 17th and cashed in on the birdie putt to move one in front. Tseng had a 12-footer for birdie to tie at the last, but her putt came up short.

Choi needed a par at the last to hang on for the victory. She narrowly missed the fairway with her drive, but was able to get a six-iron on her ball. Choi's approach landed 40 feet from the flag and she two-putted for the victory, her fifth on the LPGA Tour.

"I wasn't nervous when I started today but started getting nervous on 15 when I hear that Yani got birdie-birdie," Choi said. "So I was nervous, like from 15, 16, 17, 18 I was so nervous, but I had a great result. So it feels amazing."

The roles were reversed from last week's LPGA Hana Bank Championship when Tseng pulled out a one-shot victory over Choi.

"After that, we were still good friends and we were looking forward for another week to compete like this week," said Tseng, a six-time winner this season. "We just switch, last week I won and this week I'm second. So it was fun to have a player like this that you can always compete with and be good friends with, too."

Choi's victory on Sunday was historic. It was the 100th LPGA Tour win for a player of Korean descent.

"It's very nice. Icing on the cake," she said.

Azahara Munoz shot a two-under 69 and came in third at 12-under 272. Se Ri Pak also carded a two-under 69 and finished fourth at minus-10.

Stacy Lewis (70) and Brittany Lang (73) shared fifth at nine-under 275, while Angela Stanford (67) and Suzann Pettersen (71) tied for seventh at seven-under 277.

Christel Boeljon (66), Shanshan Feng (67), Amanda Blumenherst (68) and Paula Creamer (71) shared ninth at minus-six.

NOTES: Choi pocketed $285,000 for the victory...Defending champion Jimin Kang struggled to a four-over 75 on Sunday and tied for 50th at seven-over par...The tour moves to Taiwan next week for the first playing of the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship 2011.