Kim maintains Korean stranglehold on Ladies Open

BEIJING - Kim Hye-youn successfully defended her Hyundai China Ladies Open crown on Sunday by keeping a couple of US LPGA Tour regulars at bay to maintain South Korea's dominance of the championship.

The 22-year-old, a fourth-year pro, closed with a one-over 73 at the Orient Xiamen Golf Club for a 54-hole score of six-under 210, two strokes ahead of Feng Shanshan (70), who posted the best performance by a Chinese player at the $250,000 tournament. Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, who like Feng plays on the US LPGA Tour, was three shots off the pace in third after a final-round 70.

The fourth career victory by Kim, the sixth consecutive year a South Korean has won the China LPGA Tour-LPGA Tour of Korea co-sanctioned event, saw her walk away with $45,000.