(Sports Network) - Ji-Yai Shin fired a six-under 66 on Sunday to earn her first major championship at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale Golf Club. Shin, 20, plays primarily on the Korean LPGA Tour so this was not just her first major title, but her first victory on the LPGA Tour. She finished at 18- under 270 to win by three.

"My whole life, I've been waiting for this time and my dream comes true now," said Shin, who pocketed $314,464 for the win. "This morning I was nervous and last night it was very difficult to sleep because I was so nervous, but I focused and concentrated on my game and now I've won."

Reigning LPGA Champion Yani Tseng also shot a six-under 66 on Sunday to take second at 15-under 273.

Overnight leader Yuri Fudoh traded the lead in the final round with several players, but was ultimately done in by a bogey at the ninth. She only managed a one-under 71 on Sunday and tied for third place with Eun-Hee Ji, who carded a 67. The pair came in at 14-under 274.

Ai Miyazato also shared first on the front nine Sunday, but finished with a two-under 70. She was fifth at minus-13, one shot better than former U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr, who also posted a 70 on Sunday.

Last year's winner Lorena Ochoa inched close to the lead, but never truly threatened. She ended up with a three-under 69 and shared seventh with Momoko Ueda, who also had a 69, at 11-under 277.

Annika Sorenstam, the 2003 winner, played in what is expected to be her final major championship. The Swede, who stated she was walking away from competitive golf at the end of the year, polished off her major career with a birdie at her last hole for a four-under 68 and a share of 24th place at minus-six.

"It's sad," acknowledged Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner. "I really wish I had the desire to practice and grind. I really wish I had the hunger in me to stay motivated because I can still play.

"I just don't have the desire anymore and that's what's holding me back. It is what it is."

When one star is walking away from the world of golf, a star might be born at Sunningdale.

Shin has dominated the Korean LPGA Tour in recent years and owns three victories this season on that circuit. She continued the tradition of young, Asian-born major winners.

Tseng, 19, took home the LPGA Championship, then Inbee Park, also 19, won the U.S. Women's Open. Shin is the fifth-youngest major champion.

Shin birdied the first hole, then found herself tied for the lead after a 20- foot birdie putt from the fringe at the par-four fifth. That matched her with Fudoh at 14-under par, but three straight birdies from the ninth by Ji got her into a share of the lead.

The ninth hole proved to be crucial. Fudoh bogeyed the hole, but Shin knocked her approach to two feet and converted the birdie to move two clear at minus-15. Ji bogeyed No. 12 so Shin owned a two-shot cushion over both of her closest pursuers.

Shin could afford to play steady and relaxed, but drained a long birdie putt at the 13th. Fudoh missed a much closer birdie try at the same hole so Shin's advantage was three.

Miyazato birdied 10 and then 14 to get within two after the par-five 14th. Shin responded with a spectacular approach from the fairway at 14 in the group behind. Her ball rolled to 12 feet and she two-putted for a birdie and a three-stroke lead.

Miyazato double-bogeyed 18, while Tseng birdied the closing hole to get to minus-15. It hardly mattered except for the margin of victory.

Shin parred out, over some of the toughest holes on the course, for her biggest win to date.

This win was huge for Shin's life, although there has certainly been heartbreak. In 2003, her mother died in a car accident that also severely injured some siblings.

Five years later, she's a major champion and now has the opportunity to play on the LPGA Tour.

"My plan next year was to play Japan," acknowledged Shin. "I may be changing that plan."

Former winner Karrie Webb (68), Paula Creamer (67), Natalie Gulbis (71), In- Kyung Kim (67) and Hee-Won Han (67) tied for ninth place at 10-under-par 278.

First-round leader Juli Inkster struggled to a one-over 73 on Sunday and fell into a tie for 14th at minus-nine.



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