(29 June 2009 – Pittsford, New York)
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South Korea&aposs World No.4 Jiyai Shin again confirmed her status as one of the leading players in women&aposs golf with a comprehensive seven stroke victory at the Wegmans LPGA in Pittsford, New York. A final round of 1-under par 71 in horrific conditions saw her post a four round total of 17-under par total 271. Taiwan’s Yani Tseng and American Kristy McPherson both fired rounds of 6-under par 66 on the final day to move up from a tie for 21st to tie for second.
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rnIn a tournament that was beset by rain delays throughout, Shin took the lead after the second round, adding a 4-under par 68 to her opening round of 65 to hold a three stroke advantage heading into day three. It was on the back nine on Saturday where she took a firm grip on the tournament. After a subdued opening nine holes that realised one birdie and one bogey, she then ravaged the back nine with 5 birdies to get to 16-under par. After 54 holes she had posted only 2 bogeys and went into the final round with a comfortable four shot lead over America’s Morgan Pressel. Stacy Lewis was next best at 11-under par with Australia’s Lindsey Wright a further stroke back in a tie for 4th.
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rnThe final round was again plagued by driving rain, making it more difficult for those players who teed off in the final groups. This was none more evident than Tseng and McPherson’s climb up the leaderboard. Shin started with a birdie and by the turn her lead was still four shots over Pressel with Lewis still five behind. Wright was also playing well, posting 1-under through the opening nine holes. However, while Shin held firm on the back nine with two birdies and two bogeys, Pressel, McPherson and Wright all recorded their separate strings of bogeys to fall out of contention.
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rnThe win by Shin was her fifth on the LPGA, although only two are recorded as official victories with the first three coming last year when she was not a member. The US$300,000.00 winner’s cheque also sees her move to the top of the Official Money List with US$1,001,139.00 in season earnings. After her round she said, “I am happy. The first hole, I made birdie. That birdie changed my feeling, confidence, so I enjoyed it.”
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rnAfter a string of four bogeys from the 11th hole, Lindsey Wright eventually finished with a final round of 4-over 76 to finish in a tie for 15th. She remains in 9th place on the Official Money List with US$543,232.00 in earnings this season. Sarah Kemp also finished in a tie for 15th after a final round of 2-under par 70 that included four consecutive birdies starting at the 8th hole. It was a good comeback from the LPGA rookie who had started with 3 bogeys in her first 7 holes. Karrie Webb was the only other ALPG Member to make the cut, finishing in a tie for 24th.
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rnThis week sees the final tournament before the US Women’s Open the following week. Lindsey Wright, Katherine Hull, Rachel Hetherington, Sarah Kemp and Sarah-Jane Smith will all be teeing it up from Thursday in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger at the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Jiyai Shin