American Stacy Lewis banked her sixth pro career success with a stunning victory in the HSBC Women’s Champions event at Sentosa in Singapore.

Lewis, who last fortnight turned 28, celebrated her win in the presitigious womens event with a final round 70 and win by a shot from Na Yeon Choi and with fellow American Paula Creamer in third and two shots behind the Ohio-born Lewis.

One shot stood out above the rest for this six-time winner on the LPGA Tour. At a time when the morning wind was still in full cry, she hit a hybrid to the green of the 493 yards seventh hole which landed on the green’s apron before bouncing gently towards the hole.

Stacy Lewis proudly holds aloft the gleaming HSBC Women’s Champions trophy. (Photo – courtesy HSBC)

It left her with little more than a tap-in for the eagle which took her a shot ahead of Choi, her co-leader at the start of the day, and two clear of Creamer.

“That hybrid was probably the best shot I’ve ever hit,” said the 28-year-old Lewis. I held it up against the wind just perfectly.”

When Lewis’s followed her watery bogey at the 15th with a bunkered four at the short 17th , she had nothing more substantial than a one shot lead over Choi as they mounted the 18th tee.

Spectators were discussing the possibility of a play-off but Lewis put an end to such chat when she alone caught the green of this 498 yards par-five in two.

“All week,” she said, “I had played to get on the green in three but, with the wind the way it was, my caddie and both said ‘Driver!’ at the one time.

With neither Choi nor Creamer matching her feat of reaching the putting surface, Lewis should have been home and dry. As it was, her three putts left Choi with a birdie putt to force a play-off which the Korean star just missed.

“I played with Na Yeon for three days and she made putt after putt after putt. I fully expected her ball to go in,” said Lewis.

Afterwards, Lewis admitted that nerves had played their part amid the mounting pressure. Here again, her caddie came up trumps. “Travis,” she said, “really helped. He doesn’t get either up or down and he’s the same on the 18th hole as he is on the first tee.”

Travis Wilson refused to take any credit for Lewis’s shot to the seventh. But there were a couple of occasions on Friday when this shy soul felt that he had made a difference. In particular at the 15th where his player was in a fairway bunker. They were between clubs and eventually Wilson decreed that a nine-iron was the right club.

“It flew like a nine-iron and went forever,” he recalled. “It was absolutely the right club and it finished just six feet from the hole.” Lewis made the putt for a birdie.

Lewis who has a rod and five screws in her back as a legacy of condition called scoliosis which was diagnosed when she was 11, explained how it is in working at her fitness that she keeps further problems at bay.

If anything, she feels that she has benefited from having a real appreciation of being able to play at all: “It’s made me work harder while everything’s in good working order.”

The champion has now moved up to No 3 in the world behind Yani Tseng and Choi.

“Ultimately,” she said, I’d like to get to No. 1 and wins are the way to get there.

* Thank you to Michelle Mair, IMG for this report.