(21 March 2011 – Phoenix, AZ)
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Karrie Webb came from six shots down this morning to win the inaugural RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. A final round of 6-under par 66 saw her finish one shot ahead of the American duo of Brittany Lincicome and Paula Creamer. It is Webb&aposs second win in as many tournaments having started the season with a third place in Thailand, followed by wins in both Singapore and here in Phoenix.
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It is Webb’s 38th LPGA career title, however the first where she will collect zero cash for her efforts. Instead, US$200,000 will be donated to the charity of Karrie’s choice – the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation – an organisation that’s aim is in “finding treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders. It also works to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities.” She announced in her press conference that she will be splitting the money with this foundation and the Japan Relief Fund. The win will however, still be counted as an official victory and the regular prizemoney will count towards the official money list.
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It was Angela Stanford who started the day in front after opening rounds of 66 and 66 saw her at 12-under, holding a 3-shot buffer over Lincicome. She couldn’t continue her good form though, making regular bogeys on her way to a final round of 75 and a tie for 5th.
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With Stanford floundering, it was left to Webb, Lincicome and Creamer to battle it out down the stretch. Creamer, playing the group in front of Webb, started her day badly with 2 bogeys at the 2nd and 3rd holes and seemingly just battling for a good finish and some form for next week. However, she found her game much quicker than that and reeled off three birdies in her final four holes on the front nine to move to 6-under.
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Webb had started the best with four birdies and a bogey on the front nine putting her right in contention at 9-under par and only one behind both Lincicome and Stanford with nine to play. All three players made birdie at the 11th hole before Webb joined Lincicome in a tie for the lead at 11-under par after a birdie at the 14th.
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Up ahead, it was Creamer making a late charge with three birdies in a row from the 15th hole saw her get it to 11-under and at the time, in a three-way tie for the lead. That was short-lived as first, Webb birdied the par-5 15th hole, which was matched by Lincicome leaving them tied at 12-under. Creamer could only par the last to finish at 11-under.
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Webb made three solid pars through the final three holes to leave Lincicome with the task of making par at the tough par-4 18th hole. In the end, she could only manage a bogey and the title was Webb’s. After her round she commented about the format of the event which she has supported from the outset amid much controversy, saying, “I really think that the concept of this tournament is great, has been ever since it was announced. And I don&apost think we get the opportunity or we don&apost do it enough is celebrate our Founders and where we&aposve come from. And I couldn&apost be more honoured to win that event because I wouldn&apost have had the career that I&aposve had and the life that I&aposve had if it weren&apost for those 13 women.”
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Asked about her donation to the Christopher and Dana Reeeve Foundation she made mention of her long-time coach, saying, “I talked earlier in the week on behalf of — the reason why I&aposm involved with them is because of my coach Kelvin Haller, who&aposs been a quadriplegic for 20 years now. So you know, that&aposs why I&aposve been involved with them, and it&aposs near and dear to my heart to be associated with them.”
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Sarah-Jane Smith also finished with a flourish, firing a final round 5-under par 67 to rise from a tie for 38th to a share of 10th spot. Lindsey Wright also made the cut, finishing in a tie for 43rd at 1-over par.
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