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In Gee Chun has four late birdies to win U.S. Women’s Open

In Gee Chun reacts after sinking a putt for birdie at No. 15 during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open gat Lancaster Country Clubon Sunday.

In Gee Chun reacts after sinking a putt for birdie at No. 15 during the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open gat Lancaster Country Clubon Sunday.

(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)
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South Korea’s In Gee Chun birdied four of the last seven holes to rally for a one-stroke victory at the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Chun shot a four-under 66 in the final round and finished at eight under, becoming the first player to win her U.S. Open debut since Birdie Kim in 2005. It was her fifth victory this year.

Third-round leader Amy Yang struggled in the middle of her round and then pulled within one by going eagle-birdie at Nos. 16 and 17. But she bogeyed the 18th and fell a stroke short.

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Playing in the final group on the last day of the championship for the third time in four years, Yang squandered a three-stroke lead and settled for a one-over 71 and second at 273.

Two-time champion and top-ranked Inbee Park (67) overcame putting woes and rallied late, tying for third with Stacy Lewis (70) at five-under 275.

Defending champion Michelle Wie battled hip and leg injuries and limped in with an even-par 70, placing 11th at two-under 278.

With most of the focus on the final pairing of Yang and Lewis, Chun, playing a group ahead, quietly picked up strokes on the leaders. At four under heading into the final round at Lancaster Country Club, Chun picked up two strokes on the front nine, closing within two of the lead.

She got within a stroke with a birdie at the 12th, and then rolled in a nine-foot putt at No. 15 for the first of three straight birdies. She moved into the lead with a birdie at 16 as Yang and Lewis struggled. Chun added another birdie at the 17th to stretch her lead to two strokes.

At the troublesome 421-yard, uphill closing hole, Chun drove into the rough, chipped short and went on to make bogey, falling into a tie for the lead with Yang, who birdied 17.

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But Yang failed again in her bid to claim the biggest prize in women’s golf. She also drove into the rough at the last hole, chipped short of the green and failed to get up-and-down for par, giving Chun the win.

Fowler wins Scottish Open

Rickie Fowler birdied three of his last four holes to overhaul fellow American Matt Kuchar and win the Scottish Open by one shot on Sunday for his second victory of the year.

Kuchar was on the practice range, preparing for a playoff, when Fowler sent his approach on No. 18 to within 18 inches. He tapped in the putt for a two-under 68 — the same score as Kuchar — and an overall 12-under 268.

It is the fourth title of Fowler’s professional career, coming two months after winning The Players Championship, and the second outside the United States after the Korea Open in 2011. And his links game looks in good shape ahead of next week’s British Open at St. Andrews.

Raphael Jacquelin of France birdied the last hole for 70 to tie for second place with Kuchar, and claim one of three British Open places on offer along with third-round leader Daniel Brooks, the No. 528-ranked Englishman, and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.

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Smith earns first Champions title

Jerry Smith shot a two-under 70 on Sunday to win the Encompass Championship for his first title on the Champions Tour.

Smith had a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the 54-hole tournament, but the margin was down to one over David Frost when he reached the 579-yard, par-five 16th hole. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native hit his second shot left into a greenside bunker, but holed out for a crucial eagle with two holes to play.

Smith finished at 16-under 200 at North Shore Country Club, setting a tournament record. Frost had a 68 in the final round and was three strokes back in second.

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