Miyazato wins first LPGA Tour event
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2012 Safeway Classic | Wrap | 20 Aug 2012
Japan’s Mika Miyazato has finally achieved what she has been threatening to do for two years on the LPGA Tour, namely to win her first title at the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon.
The 22 year old only other significant victory came when she won the Japan Open in 2010 but she has developed into one of the LPGA Tour’s most consistent players in recent times. In six of her last eight starts she has been inside the top ten, three of those being finishes inside the top three.
Miyazato, no relation to her famous namesake Ai, has long been considered one of the future stars of the game, ever since winning the Japan Amateur Championship at the age of 14.
Today Miyazato held off strong finishes by Brittany Lincicome, Inbee Park and Haeji Kang and saw off other challenges from So Yeon Ryu and Cristie Kerr.
Amongst the Australians in the event Karrie Webb finished 26th and Sarah Jane Smith 70th
