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Jessica Korda wins LPGA Malaysia for 4th title, Lydia Ko ties for 2nd

October 12, 2015
Jessica Korda, left, of the United States is poured water by fellow golfer Ha Na Jang of South Korea after winning the LPGA Malaysia golf tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Jessica Korda, left, of the United States is poured water by fellow golfer Ha Na Jang of South Korea after winning the LPGA Malaysia golf tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Joshua Paul)ly

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Jessica Korda won the LPGA Malaysia on Sunday for her fourth tour title, closing with a 6-under 65 in sweltering conditions at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club for a four-stroke victory.

After winning twice last season, the 22-year-old American entered the week with only one top-10 finish this year, a tie for second in January in Florida in the season-opening event.

“I think it was just a long time coming,” Korda said. “I knew that I was getting really close and just needed to stay patient.”

She made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch that ended on the 10th, dropped a stroke on the par-4 11th and sealed it with birdies on the par-3 15th and 17th. Then she cried on the 18th green after her final putt.

Second-ranked Lydia Ko, No. 3 Stacy Lewis and 2014 winner Shanshan Feng tied for second.

Korda finished at 18-under 266 and earned $300,000. She opened with rounds of 69, 67 and 65 to take a two-stroke lead into the final day. The weekend 65s are her two best scores this year.

“Jess played unbelievable today. Nobody was going to beat her,” Lewis said. “When you have a two-shot lead and shoot 6 under, it’s pretty hard to beat.”

Korda’s father, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open tennis tournament.

“I didn’t actually get to talk to my dad,” Korda said. “It went straight to voicemail, but I did get a series of text messages.”

Ko finished with a 66. The 18-year-old New Zealander was coming off consecutive victories in Canada and France, where she became the youngest major champion.

Feng also had a 66, and Lewis shot 67.

“I think I did a lot of good stuff this week and a lot of good things to build on,” Lewis said.

The event was the first of five straight in Asia. The LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship is next week in South Korea, followed by stops in Taiwan, China and Japan.