Matthew's strong finish as Seo lands first title

HEE Kyung Seo won her first LPGA Tour title with a dominant six-stroke victory at the Kia Classic in California as Catriona Matthew rediscovered her form with a five-under 67 in the final round.

Playing in just her sixth tour event, South Korean Seo entered the final day with a five-stroke lead and was never in danger of losing it. Seo was more erratic on Sunday, even throwing in a double bogey at the 16th, but she was so far ahead by then it did not matter. Inbee Park produced the round of the day, a seven-under 65 which included an eagle at the par-5 third, to snatch an unlikely second, having been way off the pace overnight.

Jee Young Lee and Jiyai Shin each carded rounds of two-under to share third with Candie Kung, who was second overnight. Open champion Matthew refound her form with a 67 which left her four under for the weekend, tied for sixth in a group of four players which included Michelle Wie.

Matthew was left to rue rounds of 75 and 74 on Friday and Saturday which pushed her out of contention. Wie was hit with a two-stroke penalty for grounding her club in a hazard on the par-5 11th, denying her a share of second. Seo said she will probably finish the season on the Korean Tour and think about joining the LPGA Tour in the off-season. But she's in the field for the season's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship this week in Rancho Mirage, based on her spot on the KLPGA money-list last year.