South Korea's Jiyai Shin birdied the second hole of a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to beat Angela Stanford and Sun Young Yoo for her third US LPGA title of 2009.

Shin started the final round of the $1.8-million, 54-hole event seven shots off the lead. She fired a seven-under 64 for a nine-under total of 204.

"I wanted to just make under par," Shin said of her goal for the day at the opening tee.

Shin completed her final-round score shortly after noon, and waited some two hours for the rest of the field to finish.

South Korea's Yoo birdied the 18th to seize a share of the lead, and Stanford put herself in the playoff with an eagle at the final hole.

The trio returned to 18 to start the playoff, and all made birdies.

On the next hole, Yoo's tee shot found the fringe and she chipped close to the hole.

Stanford missed her birdie putt - on a similar line to Shin's putt.

"Angela's ball broke left to the right," Shin said. "I trusted Angela's putt."

It paid off, as Shin drained her 12-footer for the triumph, which made her the first three-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year.

"I'm lucky this year," she said. "I'm just focused on the rookie of the year, but now I still have a chance for the player of the year."

Nancy Lopez was the last player to win both awards, back in 1978.

While Shin is a newcomer to the US women's tour, she has solid international credentials, including victory in the Women's British Open last year.

In South Korea, she is called the "Final-Round Queen," and her ability to rally was on display in March when she erased a four-shot deficit with nine holes to play en route to winning the HSBC Women's Championship.

About an hour after Shin finished her round, Shi Hyun Ahn reached the green in two at the par-five 18th. She three-putted to finish a 66 for 205. She finished tied with overnight leader Song-Hee Kim, who missed a birdie putt at the last to settle for a 72.

Stanford's mother, who is battling breast cancer, was on hand for the exciting finish.

Stanford started the day two shots adrift. She opened with a bogey, but holed nine-iron from 138 yards for an eagle at the second.

Her eagle at the 54th hole came courtesy of a 25-foot putt.

"I was nervous, and all day I had missed a lot of putts that I should have made," Stanford admitted. "I thought, 'You know, my mom's here, forget being nervous. Be a player and get it in the hole.'"