Sunday February 28, 2010, 10:12 AM

Japan's Ai Miyazato Sunday won the 1.3-million-dollar HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore to continue her sparkling start to the USLPGA season with a second straight title.

Miyazato, the joint overnight leader with American Juli Inkster, posted a 69 for a 10-under total of 278 for the tournament and took home the winner's cheque of 195,000 dollars.

It was a topsy-turvy ride to the title as the Japanese star bogeyed the first and second hole before finding her range with birdies in the fourth, fifth and ninth holes in the front nine.

In the back nine she bogeyed the tenth hole but followed it up with three straight birdies to briefly take a one-shot lead over a pack of contenders.

Miyazato's win in Singapore capped a fine start for the 24-year-old who won the season opener in Thailand last week.

"Well I was really calm this morning but you know, sometimes like when you play calm, it's not going to happen," said Miyazato.

"So I stepped back after my bogey (in) the first two holes and I didn't really control myself after that.

"So it was really a long day... So it was tough but I'm just happy to win."

On how she held her nerve to make three straight birdies in the back nine, Miyazato said: "I'm just trying to concentrate on the moment on my stroke and I also focus on trying to keep a low centre of gravity."

A crucial birdie putt at the 16th hole gave Miyazato the lead again as she went 10-under when American Cristie Kerr bogeyed the 17th to drop to nine-under.

Kerr, who had been solid all day, threatened but saw her chance of lifting the trophy slip away when she bogeyed the 17th and 18th to finish two shots behind the winner at eight-under for a total of 280.

"For sure, I played my heart out today," said Kerr.

"Seventeen was tough but you know, I kind of just kept the bad momentum going and just kind of made a bad decision.

"You live and learn, I guess."

Kerr, ranked sixth in the world, said she was keeping her chin up despite coming so near to winning the title only to falter in the final moments.

"You know, in contention, beginning of the year, I've got to take that away," said Kerr.

"It's a disappointing finish but I still have to keep my head high."

Defending champion and world number two Shin Ji-Yai of South Korea put up a valiant fight for her title defence with five birdies to finish at seven-under par 281.

She finished tied at third spot with Taiwan's Yani Tseng (69), Korea's Kim Song-Hee (67) and Norway's Suzann Pettersen (69).

Inkster finished tied for nine as she carded a two-over for 74 with six bogeys in the final round.

World number one Lorena Ochoa was never in contention after a disastrous second round. She finished overall tied at 38th spot with a 72 for 292.

© 2010 AFP/sid