Lee Jeong-Hwa of Korea shot a 2-under 70 on Friday to seal a come-from-behind victory at the TLPGA Tour and LPGT (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour) co-sanctioned ICTSI Champion Tour in Manila, Philippines. Lee finished at 8-under par 208 and one shot ahead of 36-hole leader Fumika Kawagishi.

Lee has claimed her third career title, in addition to one also on the Filipino circuit before she turned pro in 2012, and a first TLPGA Tour win last year at the Hong Kong Ladies Open. She earns US$15,000 for this week’s victory at the Splendido Taal Golf Club while Kawagishi takes US$7,500.

The Philippines’ Princess Superal (71) wins the low amateur honor, tying fellow teenager from Thailand Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul, who carded a low-round 69, and Taiwan’s Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹) (71) for third at 2-under par. The 19-year-old was on an eight-win roll but it had to come to an end.

Grouped with overnight leader Kawagishi, Lee could yet to close the one-shot gap when the two made the nine-hole turn. But the Korean found a different gear on the back nine.

Lee birdied the 11th to keep up the pace after Kawagishi birdied the 10th. The two traded bogeys on No.12 and No.13. On the following 14th, the Japanese missed a 6 footer to drop a shot while Lee seized her chance on the 15th and added a birdie.

The two-shot swing was all Lee needed. She drained a 5-foot birdie putt on No.17 to build a two-stroke cushion for the last. Kawagishi gave a final effort to birdie the 54th hole but still fell just one shot short as Lee calmly sank her par putt.

“It was a little frustrating on the front nine actually, because Fumika was playing a great short game and I couldn’t really catch up,” said Lee. “I’m happy I never gave up, created more chances on the back nine and I took them.”

Chen Yu-Ju had a front-nine 36 and a back-nine 35 on Friday to wrap up as the best finisher from Taiwan. “I think I was driving pretty well, leaving about 80 feet to the greens on most holes, which was a comfortable attacking distance for my iron and I got some easy birdies,” said Chen. “But overall the putter was a bit off. I three-putted on two holes or else I could have finished at solo second.”

“There were 15 birdies for me this week in just 54 holes, which was not bad. Just had to cut down the errors.” Chen will be playing the second stop of the ICTSI Champion Tour next week. “I think I will do better!” Her playing partner and compatriot Chen Min-Jou (陳敏柔) finished with 72s in all three rounds and tied for sixth with Thailand’s Mookharin Ladgratok and Korea’s Kang Ji-Won.

The ICTSI Champion Tour: 2nd Stop will tee it up next Wednesday at the Manila Southwoods Golf & CC where Lee will come back in search of a back-to-back triumph.