Date: May 25, 2009
Author: PA Sport

Tseng claims narrow win

Taiwan&aposs Yani Tseng earned her second LPGA Tour win with a one-shot victory at the Corning Classic. Last season&aposs rookie of the year, who won the LPGA championship as a teenager 11 months ago, held her nerve after surging to the top of the leaderboard in the closing stages at the Corning Country Club. A five-under-par round of 67 – following up her sparkling 62 on Saturday – was enough for a 21-under total, one ahead of Paula Creamer and Soo-Yun Kang. Creamer watched the final holes from the clubhouse after carding a second successive round of 65 while Kang looked set to force a play-off only for a late bogey to cost her dear. Mika Miyazato could only manage a 70 to finish on 19-under while Song-Hee Kim, Ai Miyazato, Sandra Gal and Vicky Hurst were tied on 17-under. Aussie Katherine Hull shared 14th place on 15-under and Wendy Doolan finished at 12-under. Meanwhile, Jade Schaeffer claimed her first Ladies European Tour victory in a sudden-death play-off against Paula Marti at the HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open. The 23-year-old Frenchwoman shot a final-round five-under 67 before watching on as overnight leader Marti faltered over the final stages in shooting her 73. That meant the pair went to a sudden-death play-off where Schaeffer took only one hole to clinch her maiden LET title by holing a one-metre birdie putt. “I have a good feeling in Germany and in Holland,” Schaeffer said afterwards. “My objective for this year was to win a tournament and play the British Open and the Evian Masters. I think now it&aposs good.” Schaeffer had put herself into contention on the final day with six birdies in her opening eight holes. While she then slipped up with bogeys at nine and 10, Schaeffer drew level with Marti and Martina Eberl on 13-under after she birdied the 12th. Schaeffer was first into the clubhouse where she watched on as Eberl, and especially Marti, who missed a number of birdie chances late on, squandered their chances to clinch the title in normal play. Marti did hold on to at least force a play-off but her poor day continued as Schaeffer wrapped things up on the first hole. Eberl and England&aposs Melissa Reid finished one shot further back in third. Nikki Garrett was the leading Australian at five-under, while Karen Lunn tied for 37th at even-par.