Kiwi golf star Lydia Ko has earned a top-five finish at the prestigious US Women's Open at North Carolina on Monday (NZ time).
In her final round, the world No. 3 carded a one-over par 72 to close on five-under overall for the tournament and finish in fifth place, after some costly late wobbles.
Ko was eight shots behind runaway winner Minjee Lin of Australia, who finished 13-under and four shots clear of her nearest rival, American Mina Harigae.
Chasing her third Major win, the 25-year-old's fourth round began in promising fashion, shooting two birdies through the first three holes to move into a tie for second place.
She pulled back the shot dropped at the seventh with a birdie on the 13th hole, until three bogeys through her final three holes - including two straight at the the 17th and 18th - saw her slip down the leaderboard.
Ko seemed poised to contend for a significant share of the overall prize purse of US$10 million (NZ$15.36m), after a stellar third round of five-under 66 catapulted her up the leaderboard, only for her tournament to come to a somewhat anti-climactic end.
Nevertheless, it's another encouraging result for Ko, who has been in solid form hroughout 2022, highlighted by her drought-breaking win at the Gainbridge LPGA event at Florida in January.
Lee's win pockets her a record women's pay cheque of US$1.8 million (NZ$2.76m).
The 26-year-old from Perth made a hot start to the final round, with birdies at the first two holes and was never headed en route to an even-par 71 in demanding conditions that made it tough for her pursuers to make a charge.
Lee, who won her first major title at last year's Evian Championship, joins Karrie Webb (2000 and 2001) and Jan Stephenson (1983) as Australians to win the US Women's Open.
