Korean Park Inbee triumphs at Interlachen

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - South Korean teenager Park Inbee, maintaining her poise in blustery conditions, became the youngest player to win the U.S. Women's Open with a four-shot victory on Sunday.

Two strokes off the pace going into the final round at Interlachen Country Club, the 19-year-old birdied the first two holes on her way to a two-under-par 71.

With most of her closest challengers floundering in the gusting winds, Inbee eased to her maiden LPGA Tour title, eclipsing compatriot Pak Se-ri who won the tournament in 1998 aged 20.

Inbee, who birdied the last for a nine-under total of 283, also became the third-youngest woman to win a major championship.

American Morgan Pressel was 18 when she won last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship and Taiwan's Yani Tseng triumphed at this month's LPGA Championship at 19.

Veteran Swede Helen Alfredsson, playing with Inbee in the penultimate group, birdied the final hole for a 75 to secure second place at five under.

(Editing by Miles Evans)