(29 July, .jpg)
Evian-les-Bains, France)
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Karrie Webb did all she could in throwing a final round 5 under par 67 at the leaders, only to fall two short of South Korean Inbee Park whose closing 66 gave her a two shot victory at the Evian Masters presented by Société Générale, Sunday.
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On an afternoon when scoring was hot and as many a six players challenged the lead on the back nine, Park put on a scintillating putting display to hold on to the lead she shared with Stacy Lewis at the start of the day. Her back nine comprised five birdies and when she shared the lead with three holes to play, she calmly rolled in birdie putts from ten, four and twenty five feet to seal a two shot victory over Webb and Lewis.
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Playing in the penultimate group, Webb applied the pressure with birdies on her final two holes, almost holing her eagle pitch to the 18th green, the ball sliding just centimetres past the hole. Her 15 under total was equalled when Lewis rolled in a 30ft eagle putt on the final green.
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Needing only a par to secure the win, Park, the 2008 US Women’s Open Champion played the final hole conservatively, laying her second shot short of the hazard and wedging to the centre of the green to leave a straight forward two putts for the win. But, as she had done all day, Park rolled the sliding 25 foot putt into the centre of the cup, signing off on a round which included just 22 putts in a final day 6 under par 66. She claimed the winner’s cheque of US$487,500 whilst Webb and Lewis each took home $US258,309.
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Having struggled with the greens in her previous five appearances at the tournament, Park explained that the faster pace suited her putting style. “I really had tough time last five years putting over here and didn&apost play good over here. I was not really confident with the greens. This year I came and the greens were a lot quicker than last five years. I like the fast greens, so I think that really suited me as well,” said Park, whose only other victory on the LPGA Tour was that US Women’s Open in 2008 when she was the youngest ever winner of the title, aged 19.
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She was filled with pride as a French sky diver delivered the Korean flag to the 18th green during the prize giving and said: “I feel really special. In the Olympics when I was watching all the athletes have their flags on when they had a medal, I wanted to do that also. I did it today, so I&aposm very happy.”
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Webb, the 2006 champion, revelled at the opportunity to win the Evian Masters for a second time but fell just short, her 67 containing one dropped shot and six birdies.
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“I shot 67 today, so I can&apost really complain. I think Inbee shot 66. She played really, really well. Obviously you want to win, but just to be in contention and perform well under pressure, just to feel what it&aposs like to be in contention, is good. I gave myself the chance,” Webb said.
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Three players shared fourth place. 2007 champion Natalie Gulbis; LPGA Championship winner Shanshan Feng and 17 year old South Korean amateur Hyo Joo Kim. For Kim this was an outstanding result, playing the tournament on invitation courtesy of her outstanding amateur record and recent win at the LPGA of Japan’s Suntory Open where she fired a final round 11 under 61.
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Of the other Australians in the field, Lindsey Wright had a very solid week, finishing in a tied for 16th at 8 under par; Katherine Hull was at 3 under, tied 36th whilst Wendy Doolan and Karen Lunn unfortunately missed the cut on their score of 5 over par.
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