(17 May 2010 – Mobile, Alabama)
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Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak completed her 25th career LPGA victory on Sunday after a playoff was required to determine the winner when the final round was abandoned at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic. Pak, Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Pettersen all finished the opening three rounds on 13-under par and were gearing up for a shootout on Sunday, however 4 inches of overnight rain and constant lightning rendered the course unplayable. Organisers prepared the 18th hole for the playoff and it was able to be completed in the afternoon. Korean’s Jee Young Lee and Na Yeon Choi had to settle for a tie for 4th after not being able to mount a final round challenge.
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rnWith the constant threat of bad weather, organisers were looking for a winner after one hole of the playoff but with three of the world’s best players, it always looked likely to go further than just one hole. All three players made regulation pars the first time round before Pettersen dropped out on the second hole after making a bogey. Lincicome two-putted from 40 feet, leaving Pak to save her par with a testing 15-footer, who calmly rolled it in centre cup.
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rnLincicome and Pak trudged back to the 18th for a third time where Pak found the bunker with her tee shot. From there she had 171 yards and hit a miraculous 6-iron to 10-feet which she later described “the bunker angle-wise is perfect.” Lincicome, the longer off the tee had the pressure on and fired at the pin. Unfortunately, she was a little strong and hit the down slope to go all the way into the back bunker. After blasting out of the wet sand to 20-feet she sunk the par saving putt. Pak, with years of experience on her side stepped up and drilled her putt to claim her first victory since 2007. She remains undefeated in playoffs, now with 6-0 record.
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rnThe win obviously meant a fair bit to Pak who was quite emotional in her speech and interviews afterward. Asked what it meant she said, “I been a little bit of, you know, having hard time for last couple of years. I’m trying to get back the way I am.”
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rnKarrie Webb was the best of the ALPG players finishing in a tie for 12th after rounds of 71, 69 and 70. Sarah-Jane Smith was next best, just two shots back after a third round of 5-under par 67 moved her up to 16th after she just made the cut on the number. Katherine Hull (T26) and Wendy Doolan (T70) also made the cut but would be disappointed they didn’t have the final round to improve their standings.
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rnThis week sees a new tournament on the schedule with the US$1.5million Sybase Matchplay Championship being played in Gladstone, New Jersey. Representing Australia in the limited 64-player field will be Karrie Webb and Katherine Hull.
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Photos by Paul Melville.