Yuri Yoshida overturned a four-shot deficit to claim her maiden LPGA Tour victory at the 2026 BMW Ladies Championship, surviving a tense final-hole finish to beat Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi by one stroke in South Korea.
HAENAM, South Korea — Japan’s Yuri Yoshida produced a stunning final-round comeback to win the BMW Ladies Championship on Sunday, October 25, denying home favourites Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi in a dramatic finish at Pine Beach Golf Links.
The 26-year-old entered the final day four strokes behind Ryu but surged into contention with an eagle and three consecutive birdies on the front nine.
Despite bogeying the final hole, Yoshida completed a four-under-par 68 to finish at 17-under 271, securing her first LPGA Tour victory since joining the circuit in 2024.
Ryu, who had led by four overnight, closed with a one-over 73 to share second place with Choi at 16-under.
Yoshida’s Eagle Sparks Remarkable Final-Round Comeback
Yoshida wasted little time putting pressure on the tournament leader.
Starting at 13-under, she made an eagle at the par-five second hole to reduce the gap to two shots.
Three consecutive birdies from the fifth through seventh holes then transformed the leaderboard, taking her to 18-under and into the outright lead.
She completed the front nine in five-under 31, turning what had appeared to be a difficult chase into a genuine opportunity for victory.
Ryu, meanwhile, struggled to recreate the attacking golf that had powered her opening three rounds.
The South Korean made 15 consecutive pars before dropping a shot at the par-four 16th, allowing Yoshida to regain a one-stroke advantage.
The championship remained undecided heading into the closing holes.
Final-Hole Drama as Ryu and Choi Miss Their Chances
Yoshida’s pursuit of victory was far from straightforward.
A bogey at the par-three 15th briefly brought her level with Ryu, but a crucial birdie at the par-five 17th restored her advantage.
She reached the final hole with a two-shot cushion over the closest challengers.
However, a three-putt bogey at the 18th left Yoshida in the clubhouse at 17-under, giving both Ryu and Choi an opportunity to force a playoff.
Ryu’s chances suffered when her tee shot on the final hole went left, and her approach finished in a greenside bunker.
After escaping, she faced a lengthy par putt that she could not convert.
Choi had an even clearer opportunity.
The South Korean found the fairway and gave herself a birdie putt that would have tied Yoshida’s total, but the ball caught the edge of the hole and stayed out.
That miss confirmed Yoshida’s one-stroke victory.
BMW Ladies Championship 2026 Final Leaderboard
| Position | Player | Final round | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuri Yoshida | 68 (-4) | -17 |
| T2 | Haeran Ryu | 73 (+1) | -16 |
| T2 | Hye-Jin Choi | 69 (-3) | -16 |
| T4 | Hyo Joo Kim | — | -15 |
| T4 | Minsol Kim | 67 (-5) | -15 |
Official final standings, October 25, 2026.
Haeran Ryu’s Four-Shot Lead Slips Away
For Ryu, the final round brought a disappointing conclusion to a week she had dominated for three days.
The two-time major champion entered Sunday at 17-under after rounds of 67, 64 and 68.
She had made only one bogey through the opening 54 holes and appeared well positioned to claim her third LPGA victory of the season.
But Ryu could not build momentum in the final round.
After opening with 15 pars, she made bogey at the 16th, birdie at the 17th and bogey at the 18th.
Her closing 73 left her one stroke behind Yoshida.
Despite the setback, Ryu secured her 11th top-10 finish of the 2026 LPGA season.
Another Near Miss for Hye-Jin Choi
Choi also left Pine Beach Golf Links without the breakthrough victory she has been chasing.
The 27-year-old had produced an extraordinary front-nine 28 during Saturday’s third round before late mistakes left her four strokes off the lead.
On Sunday, she made four birdies and one bogey for a three-under 69, placing herself within reach of a playoff.
Her missed birdie opportunity on the 18th proved decisive.
The runner-up finish came just one week after Choi narrowly missed victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, where Ruoning Yin beat her by one stroke.
Choi remains without an LPGA Tour victory as a member despite repeatedly contending near the top of leaderboards.
First LPGA Victory Marks Major Career Milestone for Yoshida
For Yoshida, the result represents a significant breakthrough in her international career.
The Japanese golfer joined the LPGA Tour in 2024 after establishing herself professionally in Japan.
Her victory at Pine Beach is her first on the LPGA Tour and came against a field featuring several of the world’s leading players.
She also earned the tournament’s $352,500 first-place prize from a total purse of $2.35 million.
The win was particularly impressive given that Yoshida had entered the final round four strokes behind one of the season’s leading performers.
Her ability to attack the opening nine and recover from late mistakes ultimately made the difference.
With the BMW Ladies Championship concluded, the LPGA Tour continues its Asian swing at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
For Yoshida, however, the most important achievement is already secured: a first LPGA Tour trophy following one of the week’s most dramatic final-round battles.