Alex edges out Ko to win Palos Verdes Championship

Marina Alex edged out World No 1 Jin Young Ko by one stroke to win the Palos Verdes Championship and claim her second LPGA Tour title.

The 31-year-old birdied the par-five 16th and then parred 17 and 18 to match Ko's five-under-par 66 for the day and finish 10 under for the event.

Alex's victory in California comes three and a half years after her first on the LPGA tour, the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic.

Alex, who recently battled a herniated disc in her lower back, was three shots behind 54-hole leader Hannah Green heading into the final round.

Alex said: "The hard work has paid off. I wasn't sure if this would ever happen again if I'm being perfectly honest. It's been tough.

"We're all getting older. I'm getting older. There are so many amazing players out here and the competition is really, really difficult.

"I just didn't know if my mind and body were going to put me back in a position that I was going to be able to do it again. Today was the day."

Two-time major winner Ko finished her round about an hour before Alex and had to watch on as the American took the outright lead by two-putting from 40 feet on the 16th and then kept her cool on the final two holes.

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Alex added: "Covid-19 slowed all of us down and then I was injured really quick after that. I had seven months off.

"It's just been really tough rebuilding [but] coming into this year I have finally felt good physically."

World No 3 Lydia Ko and Megan Khang finished tied third on eight under, with Ko carding a one-under 70 on Sunday and Khang a three-under 68.

Overnight leader Green finished in a share of fifth place on seven under after her second straight one-over-par round of 72.

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