Karrie Webb challenged with a final round 3 under par 69 but in the end fell four shots shy, in 4th place, as South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi captured the LPGA’s season ending CME Group Titleholders, Sunday.

Webb began the final round as the leading Australian, five shots behind Choi who sat at 12 under par and one clear of Japan’s Ai Miyazato. The Queenslander played impressively to get to 3 under par for the round and 10 under for the tournament after 14 holes and, at that point, within three of Choi. She played superb approach shots to each of the tough finishing holes but could not manage to convert the birdie putts and had to settle for 4th place.

For Choi, her four round total of 14 under par total earned her the $500,000 winner’s cheque which is the second biggest on offer in women’s golf, and goes nicely with the biggest – the $585,000 which also went into the NY Choi bank account following her triumph at this year’s US Women’s Open in July. The huge payday catapulted her into 2nd place on the LPGA’s final Money List. South Korean Inbee Park claimed the Money List title with $2,287,000.

So Yeon Ryu, the 2011 US Women’s Open Champion finished runner-up to Choi, two shots behind on 12 under par and one ahead of American Brittany Lincicome. The runner-up prize was $393,621 less than the heavily weighted winner’s cheque, Ryu earning $106,379.

Of the other Australians in the field, Lindsey Wright wrapped up her tournament with a final round even par 72, to tie for 26th at 1 under par with world number one, Yani Tseng. Katherine Hull finished on even par for a share of 29th whilst Sara Jane Smith rebounded from disappointing opening rounds to post the day’s best score, a five under par 67. Her round included seven birdies and two bogies which elevated to a tie for 46th position.

The LPGA‘s schedule of official events for 2012 has now concluded. The 2013 season will start in Australia with the 2013 ISPS Handa Womens Australian Open being played at the Royal Canberra Golf Club from 14-17 February.