Tseng saw off Maria Hjorth at the fourth extra hole of their play-off

Taiwanese rookie Yani Tseng saw off Sweden's Maria Hjorth at the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the LPGA Championship in Maryland.

After carding a 68 to finish 12 under par, the 19-year-old sank a six-foot birdie putt to become the second youngest ever winner of an LPGA event.

"To win my first LPGA title and a major is almost unbelievable," she said.

The world's two leading players, Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam, finished a shot behind the leaders on 11 under.

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South Korea's Jee Young Lee had led the field after three rounds, but finished tied for 18th after following her third-round 65 with a 78 on the final day.

Tseng only turned professional in January 2007, and is in her first season on the US circuit after a spell on the Asian Tour.

The only younger player to win an LPGA tournament was Morgan Pressel, who won last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship while aged 18 years and 10 months.

I had four very good chances to make birdies, but none of the putts would go in Runner-up Maria Hjorth

Her defeated opponent Hjorth admitted: "I had four very good chances to make birdies, but none of the putts would go in. Congratulations to Yani."

Meanwhile, Mexico's Ochoa feels she is still having "a great year" after failing to make it three consecutive major victories, following wins at last year's Women's British Open and this year's Kraft Nabisco Championship.

"It's disappointing, but I gave it my best, and I was proud of the way I made the two late birdies," she said.

Karen Stupples and Mhairi McKay, the only two Britons to make the cut, finished well down the field on one and two over par respectively.