Ji, the 2009 U.S. Open winner at Saucon Valley, took the last spot at Pine Needles with her sixth LPGA Tour victory and first since 2019.

At 36, Ji became the oldest South Korean winner in LPGA Tour history. Ranked 83rd in the world, she was seeded 36th in the 64-player field.

"It's still surreal and hasn't sunk in," Ji said. "I think it'll hit me once I go there next week. Hopefully I can continue this week's momentum into next week."

Furue is winless on the LPGA Tour. Ranked 27th, the 22-year-old Japanese player was seeded 10th.

Both players struggled early, combining for three par wins and three bogey halves on the first seven holes.

After making bogeys on the first two par-5s to fall a hole behind, Ji birdied the par-3 8th to tie it. She holed out spectacularly from 97 yards for eagle on the par-5 9th and won the par-4 10th with a par for a 2-up lead.

Furue took the par-4 11th with her lone birdie of the match, and Ji countered with a par win on the par-4 12th. They halved the next three holes and Ji ended it with a par win on the par-5 16th – holing a 10-footer before Furue missed her par attempt.

In the windy morning semi-finals, Ji beat Andrea Lee 4&3, and Furue edged Lilia Vu 2&1. Vu beat Lee 4&2 in the third-place match.

None of the three Aussies advanced past the round robin stages of the event in Las Vegas.