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Lydia Ko makes eagle in playoff to win MEDIHEAL Championship

Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, reacts after making a birdie on the 15th green of the Lake Merced Golf Club during the final round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship golf tournament Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Daly City, Calif. Ko won the tournament on the first playoff hole. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

Lydia Ko hit a 3-wood to 3 feet for eagle to finish off Minjee Lee on the first hole of a playoff in the chilly LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in Daly City, California.

Ko won her 15th LPGA Tour title and first since July 2016, a 43-event stretch marked by changes in instructors, caddies and equipment and a large weight loss. Five days after turning 21, the New Zealander won for the third time at Lake Merced after taking the Swinging Skirts LPGA in 2014 and 2015.

Twenty yards behind Lee in the fairway on the par-5 18th in the playoff, Ko hit a 3-wood that cleared the tree limbs on the right, landed in front of the green and rolled inches by on the right side.

Lee, the 21-year-old Australian who won the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Lake Merced, hit her second shot into the rough near the right greenside bunker and made a 10-foot birdie putt.

Ko closed with a 1-under 71 to match Lee at 12-under 276. Lee had her second straight 68.

Ko holed a flop shot for birdie on the par-4 13th, two-putted for birdie on the par-5 15th and matched Lee with an up-and-down birdie on the 18th to force the playoff.

Lee holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the par-3 17th.

Korda, a stroke ahead of Ko and Lee with nine holes left, finished with a 74 to drop into a tie for third at 8 under with Angel Yin (67), Shanshan Feng (68) and Charley Hull (70).