Shin claims LPGA win in 133rd start

Australia's Sarah Jane Smith had her best finish of the LPGA Tour season when tied 13th at the Texas Shootout.

Jenny Shin

South Korea's Jenny Shin has claimed a long-awaited maiden LPGA Tour title at the Texas Shootout. (AAP)

Australia's Sarah Jane Smith achieved easily her best result of the year as South Korea's Jenny Shin claimed a long-awaited maiden LPGA Tour title at the Texas Shootout.

Shin, 23, won in her 133rd tour start when she shot a closing four-under 67 at Las Colinas to finish at 14-under and triumph by two shots from countrywomen Amy Yang and Mi Jung Hur and third round leader Gerina Piller of the US.

Smith shot a 69 to tie for 13th, nine shots behind Shin.

Winless since her 2006 tour debut season, the result was a welcome one for 31-year-old Smith, with her $US20,005 ($A26,330) prizemoney slightly more than she had earned from seven previous starts this season.

Shin went to high school in California, and there have been high expectations for her since she won the 2006 US Girls' Junior.

"I have nothing on my mind," Shin said of her breakthrough win.

"I have absolutely nothing. I think it will hit me when everything is over and when I get on a plane and get home to my mum."

Piller, also seeking her first tour victory, birdied the final hole for a 73 to tie for second with Yang and Hur who each shot 71.

Shin birdied three of the first five holes, added another on the par-5 10th. She closed with eight pars - the last an up-and-down save from right of the green on the par-5 18th.

"I actually didn't know I was in front of everybody, I thought Amy Yang was only one stroke behind so I was really nervous on the last hole," Shin said.

Piller lives in Plano, about 20 miles from Las Colinas.

The long-hitting US Solheim Cup hero grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, and played at the University Texas-El Paso.

She has four straight top-six finishes.

Fifth-ranked Brooke Henderson closed with a 71 to tie for 19th at three under, ending the 18-year-old Canadian's string of top-10 finishes at eight.


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Source: AAP



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