Kerr comes from behind to win Lotte Championship

KAPOLEI — American Cristie Kerr capitalized on a back nine stumble by Jang Su-Yeong to come-from-behind and capture the Lotte Championship on Saturday.

The 39-year-old overcame a threeshot deficit heading into the final round to fire a bogey-free 66 for her first US LPGA Tour win since 2015.

“It's been an epic day,” said Kerr, who finished with a 72 hole total score of 20-under par 268.

“It didn’t start out so hot, but I knew if I just hung in there and made a couple of birdies I would get it going, and the back nine was magic for me this week.”

The same could not be said for unheralded Jang, who needed a sponsor’s invite to get into the tournament.

Jang, who held a three- shot lead at the end of the third round and led for much of Saturday, made double bogey on the par- three No. 8 and had a bogey on the par- five 14th to drop to 17- under.

Kerr vaulted into the lead for good with three straight birdies on the back nine, beginning at No. 13 to get to 20-under.

Also tied for second were Kiwi Lydia Ko, and South Korean Chun In-Gee.

Alena Sharp, a 35-year-old Canadian trying to win her first title on the US LPGA Tour, finished another stroke back in fifth after she bogeyed the final hole for a 70.

Jang entered the final round with a big lead, but closed with a par 72. Ko made a run in a bid for her first title since last July, closing with a 64, and Chun finished with a 67.

Third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis tied for seventh, six strokes behind Kerr. Ariya shot a final-round 69 and Lewis a 66.

Ariya's fellow Thai Nontaya Srisawang fired her second straight 71 to finish in a tie for 23rd with six others —