There were no final round heroics from Australia&aposs Karrie Webb at the Kia Classic as Spain&aposs Beatriz Recari beat South Korea&aposs IK Kim in a playoff to clinch the victory. Recari and Kim finished level at nine under through 72 holes at the Aviara Golf Club, and the pair both bogeyed the first playoff hole before the 45th-ranked Recari managed to birdie the second. Kim could only manage a par, giving the 25-year-old from Pamplona her second LPGA Tour title. Overnight leader Recari had a six-foot par putt to win the tournament on the 18th hole, but she missed – forcing a sudden-death playoff. She shot two-over 74 in her final 18 holes, while Kim produced a round of one under to put herself in the mix. Thailand&aposs Pornanong Phatlum flew up the leaderboard late with a four-under 68 that put her tied for third on eight under with Americans Mo Martin (three under) and Cristie Kerr (one under). Phatlum would have been in the playoff had she not bogeyed the par-four 18th. Webb failed to seriously threaten for the title despite starting the day in second spot, shooting a round of 74 to finish two shots off the leaders in a tie for sixth. Americans Jane Park and Lizette Salas were level with Webb on seven under. Rounding out the top 10 was a group of four on six under – including world number one Stacy Lewis. American Lewis went one over in her final round, but did have a share of the lead after she was four under through 10. Her run-in wasn&apost up to scratch, however, as she made double-bogeys at 11 and 18 with another dropped shot at 14 to see her drop off the pace. Tied for ninth with Lewis were Italy&aposs Giulia Sergas (four under), South Korea&aposs Haeji Kang (four under) and Spain&aposs Azahara Munoz (one under).
Author: Omnisport