Choi holds on to win Samsung title at Torrey Pines

Na Yeon Choi of South Korea lost a seven-stroke lead but birdied the final hole Sunday to win the $1 million 2009 Samsung World Championship, which marked the return of the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour to San Diego.

Choi, in her second year on the LPGA Tour, shot a one-under-par 71 to finish at 16-under 272 at Torrey Pines South to take the $250,000 winner’s purse.

Japan’s Ai Miyazato Miyazato shot a three-under-par 69 -- the lowest score for the final round -- to finish second, one stroke behind.

Miyazato held a one-shot lead heading into the final hole, which she bogeyed. Choi won with a birdie.

The tournament was the first appearance by the LPGA in the region in 15 years, and the first such event at Torrey Pines Golf Club since 1983.

POS NAME SCORES STATUS TOTAL OFFICIAL MONEY

1 Na Yeon Choi 71-67-63-71 272 -16 $250,000

2 Ai Miyazato 68-68-68-69 273 -15 $157,250

3 Jiyai Shin 66-69-68-74 277 -11 $106,925

T4 Paula Creamer 69-69-70-71 279 -9 $56,620

T4 Lorena Ochoa 67-69-72-71 279 -9 $56,620

6 Sophie Gustafson 67-70-75-70 282 -6 $37,765

7 Cristie Kerr 72-66-73-72 283 -5 $31,470

T8 Song-Hee Kim 66-72-78-70 286 -2 $26,437

T8 Suzann Pettersen 71-72-70-73 286 -2 $26,437

T8 Yani Tseng 75-66-70-75 286 -2 $26,437

T11 Angela Stanford 72-74-71-71 288 E $19,535

T11 Anna Nordqvist 71-74-72-71 288 E $19,535

T11 Catriona Matthew 74-68-73-73 288 E $19,535

T11 Brittany Lincicome 70-70-73-75 288 E $19,535

T15 Juli Inkster 68-74-74-74 290 +2 $15,363

T15 Karrie Webb 73-72-70-75 290 +2 $15,363

T15 Kristy McPherson 73-72-70-75 290 +2 $15,363

18 Lindsey Wright 73-72-74-72 291 +3 $13,905

19 In-Kyung Kim 72-73-73-76 294 +6 $13,270

20 Eun-Hee Ji 78-73-72-75 298 +10 $12,635