HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Jiyai Shin avoided mistakes in miserable weather conditions to stroll to a nine-shot victory at the Women's British Open yesterday.

With the last two rounds played yesterday, Shin held a three-shot lead after shooting a one-under 71 in the morning. She then stayed calm while strong winds and heavy showers sent scores soaring at Royal Liverpool in the afternoon, closing with a 73 to finish with a nine-under total of 279.

It was her second British Open title in five years, having won at Sunningdale in 2008.

"It was a long very, very tough day out there," Shin said. "But I kept my focus and concentrated on every shot and when I made the winning putt it was great," she said.

The big margin of victory was in stark contrast to her win last week when she outlasted Paula Creamer at the Kingsmill Championship in the longest play-off between two players in LPGA Tour history. That duel stretched into today, before Shin won on the ninth play-off hole.

This time she was the only player to finish below par, with fellow South Korean golfer Inbee Park second on 288.

Karrie Webb of New Zealand had put herself in contention with a 68 in the morning but then finished with an 82 for a tie for fifth place, 12 shots back.

Play was abandoned on Friday because of the bad weather, forcing two rounds to be played yesterday.

Play was suspended for about eight minutes during the fourth round as the rain and wind pelted the course, but organisers decided to play on.

Shin opened her final round with a triple bogey seven at the first hole, but she hit back with birdies at the sixth and seventh before dropping another stroke at the eighth.

She picked up three more birdies on the way along with two bogeys, staying in control of her game while Webb, herself a three-time British Open champion, faded.

Park struggled in the final round and reached the turn at four over, then dropped two more strokes on the back nine before making birdies on the 16th and 18th to take second ahead of Creamer.