(25 June 2012 – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
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America&aposs Brittany Lang recorded her first LPGA victory in dramatic fashion on Sunday. She needed a six-foot putt on the third playoff hole — her third straight birdie — to win the four-way tiebreaker at the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. In a three-way tie for second were the South Korean trio of Hee Kyung Seo, Inbee Park and Chella Choi.
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rnThe 26-year-old Texan actually had a chance to win the tournament in regulation, but pushed a two-foot putt to the left on the 18th hole, setting up the playoff after the quartet finished at 16-under par.
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rnLang, Seo and Park played in the day’s final group, and Choi joined them in the playoff after shooting an 8-under par 63. But Choi did not make it past the first extra hole and Park, the leader since the second round, was gone after the second hole when Seo and Lang birdied and she missed a four-foot putt.
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rnSeo and Lang were 4-under on the day, while Park was 2-under.
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rnLang admitted she was extremely nervous on her chance to win prior to the playoff — she had been a runner-up six times — saying her hands were shaking so much she could not settle herself down for the putt.
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“I gathered myself and it was really good experience to have that playoff go on,” said Lang, who was doused with champagne on the 18th green. “I can’t believe it took me seven years to win a tournament out here. I hadn’t been that good under pressure and I’m getting better. I’m so thankful it happened this week.”
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rnThe pressure did seem to get to Lang at times but she made the final putt when it counted, after a bunker shot that stopped less than two feet from the hole.
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rn“I got better with each putt, because I had to make two other putts to stay in the playoff,” Lang said. “The last putt to win, I felt way better than I did in regulation.”
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rnBesides getting her first win and picking up US$195,000, the six-year tour veteran also broke the Duke University hex. She is the first of 16 Blue Devils — a dynasty in women’s collegiate golf — that played on the LPGA Tour to have a victory.
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rn“I still can’t believe that I’m the first Dukie to ever win an LPGA tournament,” said Lang. “That blows my mind with all the talent that comes out of there. I’m very thankful and very honoured.”
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rnSeo had the lead after 11 holes at 17-under, but she could not put any distance on her playing partners. She had a chance to win the first two playoff holes with critical putts inside 15 feet but could not get them to fall. ”I tried my best,” Seo said. ”I made good shots up there but the hole was in a really tough position.” Seo, Choi and Park each took home US$90,231 for finishing second.
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rnAmerican Stacy Lewis and South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu also made a great run at the leaders, both shooting 7-under par 64, to finish a stroke out of the playoff at 15-under. Lewis chipped in from the sand on the 18th hole for an eagle to give her five straight finishes in the top five. It was a big comeback for Lewis, who was 1-over after the first round.
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rnIt wasn’t the best week for the Australian contingent, Karrie Webb and Katherine Hull both finishing in a tie for 40th at 4-under par, while Sarah-Jane Smith finished in a tie for 56th.