Women's golf: Choi wins LPGA Titleholders tourney
BY Associated Press
Monday, November 19, 2012
11/19/12 at 5:33 AM
U.S. Women's Open champion Na Yeon Choi won the Titleholders in Naples, Fla., on Sunday to turn a great season into her best one yet.
Locked in a battle with So Yeon Ryu along the back nine, Choi pulled away with a wedge that had to hit a tiny spot on an elevated green with three tiers. It came off perfectly, spun to 3 feet for birdie and Choi took it from there. She closed with two pars for a 2-under 70 and a two-shot victory.
The 25-year-old from South Korea won for the second time this year, and she captured the two biggest paychecks on the LPGA Tour. She won $500,000 at the Titleholders, pushing her season earnings to a career-best $1.9 million.
Ryu, honored this week as the LPGA Rookie of the Year, hit a 3-wood into about 25 feet for a two-putt birdie on the 13th to tie for the lead. But on the next hole, she didn't account for the wind making her 30-foot birdie putt faster than it looked. The putt went some 6 feet by the hole, and a three-putt bogey cost her a share of the lead. She never caught up.
Brittany Lincicome also closed with a 70 at The TwinEagles Club to finish alone in third. Karrie Webb had a 69 to finish another shot behind.
Inbee Park was never in the hunt, though she still felt plenty of pressure in the final LPGA Tour event of the year. She needed to make sure she didn't stumble in the final round to capture the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average, and she handled that with ease. Park had a 70, while Stacy Lewis had a 74.
Jimenez becomes oldest European Tour winner: In Hong Kong, Miguel Angel Jimenez became the oldest European Tour winner by shooting a 5-under 65 to capture his third Hong Kong Open title.
At 48 years and 318 days, the Spaniard surpassed the previous record set by Ireland's Des Smyth, who was 48 years and 34 days when he won the 2001 Madeira Islands Open.
Stenson wins South African Open: In Johannesburg, Henrik Stenson shot a 71 Sunday for a 17-under total of 271 to win the European Tour's South African Open and end a three-year wait for a tournament title.
The Swede held on to his three-shot overnight lead for his first victory since the 2009 Players Championship.
Scott rallies to win Australian Masters: In Melbourne, Australia, Adam Scott shot a 5-under 67 to win the Australian Masters for his first victory of the year.
Scott had five birdies on the front nine and another on No. 18. He trailed Ian Poulter by one after three rounds. Scott finished with a 72-hole total of 17-under 271 at Kingston Heath.
New Zealanders Gareth Paddison (68) and Mark Brown (69) tied for third, eight strokes behind.
Original Print Headline: LPGA win gilds season for Choi
Associated Images:
Na Yeon Choi of South Korea celebrates after winning the LPGA Titleholders tournament Sunday in Naples, Fla. COREY PERRINE / Naples Daily News / AP
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