Date: April 21, 2013
Author: Australian Ladies Professional Golf

Pettersen wins playoff, Webb top Aussie

Australian Karrie Webb carded a final round of five-under-par 67 but it was Norway s Suzann Pettersen who took home the LOTTE tower trophy at Kapolei, Hawaii. The World No. 6 on the Rolex s Rankings held a three shot lead with nine to play and appeared to be cruising to victory. However, American Lizette Salas stormed home with a career low round of 10-under-par to charge up the leaderboard. At the end of regulation Pettersen (67) and Salas were tied at the top at 19-under-par. Both players found the fairway on the first playoff hole, the par 4 18th. The more experienced Pettersen, who had a playoff record of 4-2 before today, was away first; she hit the green in regulation. Salas, who is in her rookie year, hit her approach shot fat and into the water in front of the green. Pettersen two putted from 16 feet for par to capture her 11th LPGA title, the LPGA LOTTE Championship presented by J Golf. It was the 32-year-old s second win of 2013 after she won the Mission Hills World Ladies Championship on the LET in March. Thailand s Ariya Jutanugarn (66) finished outright third four shots back, with the South Korean pair of I.K Kim (65) and the new Rolex World No. 1 Inbee Park (67) sharing fourth position at 13-under-par. Webb, started the day tied for 24th, went out in one-under-par after two birdies and one bogey. However the seven time major champion got going on the back nine of the Ko Olina Golf Club course. Webb started with back-to-back to birdies and then followed up with a couple of pars before she hit a superb hybrid into par 5 14th to six feet, she made the eagle putt to move to eight-under-par. It didn t stop there, Webb followed the eagle up with another birdie. Unfortunately, Webb bogeyed the par 4 17th to drop back to eight-under-par and that is where she finished the tournament and tied for 17th. Katherine Hull-Kirk, Sarah Jane Smith and Julia Boland all posted one-under-par rounds of 71 to finish the tournament at one-over-par and tied for 57th position. Lindsey Wright was the only other Australian to make the cut and she finished in a tie for 74th position at eight-over after an even par final round. New Zealand s amateur sensation Lydia Ko continued her impressive form in LPGA events by finishing in the top 10. The Kiwi fired a final round of 66 to finish at 10-under-par and tied for ninth. Defending champion, Japan s Ai Miyazato finished in a share of sixth position at 11-under-par.