ROGERS, Ark. — Jiyai Shin arrived at the course around 5:30 a.m., then began her final round a couple hours later in one of the first groups to tee off.

A championship was the furthest thing from her mind.

"I wanted to just make under par," Shin said.

Shin accomplished that modest goal and a whole lot more yesterday, rallying from a seven-stroke deficit to win the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship. Shin shot a 7-under 64 and outlasted Angela Stanford and Sun Young Yoo in a sudden-death playoff at Pinnacle Country Club.

Shin, an LPGA Tour rookie from South Korea, now has three wins on tour this year, the most of any player.

"I'm lucky this year," she said. "I'm just focused on the rookie of the year, but now I still have a chance for the player of the year."

After posting her final-round score, Shin had to wait about two hours for everyone else to finish. She finished at 9-under 204 for the 54-hole event on the 6,244-yard course.

Meanwhile, Stanford and second-round leader Song-Hee Kim were plodding along. For the third straight year, rain was a factor at this event, although it was fairly light yesterday and play wasn't delayed.

Stanford came to the final hole knowing she needed an eagle to make it to a playoff with Shin and Yoo, who finished with a 68. After reaching the green at the 515-yard, par-5 in two shots, she drained a 25-foot putt.

"That was pretty cool," Stanford said. "I told my caddie, walking 18, 'They're going to erupt if we eagle 18.' "

They all birdied the first playoff hole — the par-5 18th — then went to the par-3 15th.

Yoo's tee shot ended up on the fringe, and she was unable to chip in for birdie. Stanford and Shin were both on the same part of the green. Stanford's 15-foot birdie putt attempt slid past the hole. Shin then made hers from 12 feet for the win.

Rookie Michelle Wie shot 2-over 73 and finished tied for 27th at 212. The Punahou alum and Stanford student earned $14,015 and is 16th on the money list with $597,197.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Kingston wins Mercedes: James Kingston of South Africa captured his second European Tour title yesterday, beating Anders Hansen of Denmark on the first playoff hole at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne, Germany.

Kingston was two shots ahead with two holes to play, but had a bogey on the 17th after Hansen had a birdie. Kingston (69) and Hansen (67) both finished at 13-under 275 at the Gut Laerchenhof course.

Hansen's approach on the first playoff hole went over the green and into a bunker. He blasted out to within 6 feet, but missed his putt for a bogey. Kingston made his par for the victory.

WALKER CUP

U.S. wins third in row: The United States won its third straight Walker Cup yesterday, taking five singles matches and halving another for a 16 1/2-9 1/2 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Americans Ricky Fowler and Peter Uihlein won all four of their weekend matches, and Cameron Tringale won in an 8-and-6 romp in the third-largest winning margin by a U.S. player in singles.

Fowler's victory punctuated a solid amateur career. Tringale's victory ensured the U.S. would retain the title.