(24 May 2010 – Gladstone, New Jersey)
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Korean Sun Young Yoo became the first Rolex First Time winner of 2010 with a stunning week of golf at the Sybase Match Play Championship in New Jersey. Yoo defeated America’s Angela Stanford in the final 3 & 1 to notch her first title on the LPGA after joining the Tour in 2006. In the 3rd/4th place playoff, World No. 1 Jiyai Shin defeated compatriot Amy Yang 3&2.
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rnJust to make the final Yoo had to play the best golf of her career. From the first round she defeated 34th seed-Karen Stupples (3&2), 5-Cristie Kerr (4&2), 12-Song-Hee Kim (1up), 4-Yani Tseng (2 &1) and 1-Jiyai Shin (2&1) in the semi-final.
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rnStanford had a much easier route (on paper) to the final. Her results were 59-Amy Hung (4&3), 41-Pat Hurst (4&2), 55-Amanda Blumenherst (20th hole), 15-Catriona Mathew (5&3) and 30-Amy Yang (19th hole) in her semi-final.
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rnThe final was indeed a close fought affair with no player gaining much advantage through the opening nine holes. In fact, Yoo was the only player to win a hole, with a par at the third to Stanford’s bogey. The pair then matched scores for the next 7 holes before Stanford won her first hole on the 11th to draw level. She then went 1up with a birdie at the par-3 12th hole. However, the final then took a turn in favour of the Korean, who won four of the next five holes to close out the match 3&1.
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rnCelebrating her victory Yoo said, “I’m really happy and I’m really happy with my first victory on the LPGA. I have been waiting many years and my sister’s here.” It was then pointed out to her that she made only one birdie in the final to which she replied with, “The course played really hard today, so I didn’t try to make too many birdies, just stay focused.”
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rnKarrie Webb was beaten in the second round to end the Australian challenge. She was beaten by American Amanda Blumenherst; who was 6-under par through twelve holes when the match ended. Katherine Hull fought back in her opening round match after being 3 down at one stage. Unfortunately she ran out of holes and her week ended with Germany’s Sandra Gal winning 1 up.
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rnThe LPGA now has a two week break before play resumes at the US$1.7 million State Farm LPGA Classic in Springfield, Illinois.
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Photos courtesy of LPGA.