US Women's Open 2012: Winner, Leaderboard and Highlights

The 2012 U.S Women’s Open is over. As many expected, Na Yeon Choi claimed the third major of the season with an overall score of seven-under-par 73.

Choi started her round with a bogey, but she managed to birdie the par-four fourth to stay even for the day. The real trouble came on 10 where she had a triple bogey, her first of the week.

This put her five-under and just two strokes better than her fellow countrywoman Amy Yang, who by that time had scored one bogey and two birdies.

However, Na Yeon added red numbers at 11, 15 and 16 to get back to even par and eight-under for the tournament. Yang couldn't catch Choi and finished runner-up at three-under.

She finished with a bogey on 18 to seal the deal and hoist her first major championship trophy.

After her victory, Choi acknowledged, “I did a really good job today. I had really good patience, and I was very calm. So I think I'm very happy and very satisfied now.”

Choi was very overwhelmed after her round, "I can't believe this. But maybe tomorrow I can feel it, after—when I get to Korea,” she confessed.

The best American on the leaderboard was Paula Creamer who struggled on the back nine and posted a 74, her highest score of the week, finishing three-over and tied for seventh.

The leaderboard

Position	Player	Score
1	Na Yeon Choi	-7
2	Amy Yang	-3
3	Sandra Gal	+1
T4	Ilhee Lee	+2
	Giulia Sergas
	Shanshan Feng
T7	Paula Creamer	+3
	Mika Miyazato
T9	Se Ri Pak	+4
	Nicole Castrale
	Inbee Park
	Crisitie Kerr
	Suzann Pettersen

History repeats

This was the second time that Blackwolf Run hosted the U.S. Women’s Open. 14 years ago, Se Ri Pak claimed this same major at six-under par. Pak had to defeat Jenny Chuasiriporn in a playoff to accomplish the feat and become the first South Korean to win the U.S. Women’s Open

Since Se Ri won in 1998, five other South Koreans have hoisted this trophy: Birdie Kim (2005), Inbee Park (2008), Eun Hee-Ji (2009), So Yeon Ryu (2011) and Na Yeon Choi (2012).

“She's already been there many times. She won five times already, and of course, this is a little different than a regular event, but of course, having a lot of pressure herself, but she's good enough to be out there, hung in there,” said Se Ri earlier today.

Lowest and highest rounds

Pin locations were tougher than ever and the scores reflected it. American golfer Alison Walshe and South Korean Sue Kim shot nine-over par, while Lexi Thompson, Vicky Hurst and Lizette Salas finished eight-over for the day.

The lowest round of the day was Sun Young Yoo's who managed to shoot four-under. Two other South Koreans went low too: Hee Kyung Seo and Yeon-Ju Jung, who scored three-under par.

Other top golfers

Ai Miyazato couldn't make a run in the last round and finished tied for 28th, after shooting five-over. Michelle Wie completed the tournament tied for 35th scoring eight-over today. Stacy Lewis shot 75 and finished tied for 46th. World No. 1 Yani Tseng shot six-over for a 14-over overall score.