(21 September 2009 – La Jolla, California)
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South Korea&aposs Na Yeon Choi became the sixth Rolex First-Time Winner in 2009 with a two-shot victory at the Samsung World Championship at the famed Torrey Pines South Course on Sunday. After forging a six shot lead through nine holes, Choi had to withstand a substantial challenge from Japan&aposs Ai Miyazato to eventually run out victor by just one stroke. World No.2 Jiyai Shin finished in outright third place, for once, not producing her usual final day heroics to finish five strokes behind Choi.
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rnAt the start of the day in this elite 20-player field, Choi (-15) who had fired a scintillating third round of 9-under par 63, held a two-stroke lead over Shin (-13) with Miyazato (-12) a further shot back in third. Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa were the next best, however they were back at 8-under par and it seemed like a race in three.
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rnWith birdies at the 2nd and 4th followed by an eagle at the 6th, Choi reached 18-under par by the turn, and seemingly impossible to catch, six shots in front of Miyazato. However, the wheel had started to turn with Choi taking a bogey on 9, followed by further bogeys on 10, 11 and 15. By this stage, Miyazato, who had stayed bogey-free posting birdies on 7,8 and 12, had tied with Choi at 15-under par. She then took the lead for the first time with a birdie at the 16th and it looked like she would add to her Evian Masters victory in July.
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rnThe crunch, however, came at the 72nd hole. Miyazato, playing one group ahead of Choi, had a second shot to the par-5 18th that she pulled slightly, and ended up in the greenside water hazard. A drop, chip and two putts later meant she finished with a bogey and a total score 15-under par. Choi, back on the fairway watching knew she needed birdie for the win. She duly obliged after two-putting from the front edge, with her birdie putt from 4-feet, to seal a nerve-wracking first LPGA title. Afterwards the second year LPGA player said, “That putt (on 18) was, I feel like I can’t say. I was really nervous and I feel like I just turned pro now. I can’t believe I just won my first tournament. I can’t think of words to describe how I feel right now.”
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rnOnly Karrie Webb and Lindsey Wright qualified to play in the 20-player field and both had disappointing weeks finishing in a tie for 15th and 18th positions respectively.
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rnThis week a full field will line up for the US$1.1million CVS/Pharmacy LPGA at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, California. ALPG will be represented by Wendy Doolan, Rachel Hetherington, Katherine Hull, Sarah Kemp, Sarah-Jane Smith and Karrie Webb.
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Photo by Paul Melville – Na Yeon Choi