NINTH LPGA TOUR WIN - AND IN HER HOME STATE OF TEXAS

STACY LEWIS WINS BY SIX STROKES

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Stacy Lewis poses with the trophy after winning  the North Texas LPGA Shootout 

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Stacy Lewis said she had something to prove on Sunday at the North Texas LPGA Shootout and she proved once again why she’s one of the best lady golfers in the world.  
Lewis shot the low round of the final day at Irving, Texas with a 7-under 64 to clinch her ninth career LPGA Tour victory and first of the 2014 season. 
The Ricoh Women's British champion finished at 16-under 268 and six shots clear of South Korea’s Meena Lee. 
Lewis celebrated her win with several family members and her college coach in her home state of Texas.
“It’s awesome,” said Lewis. “It’s relief more than anything.  I’ve been so close the last few months. Maybe if I had won one of those, I don’t get it done here.  So I think it was all meant to be.  Just to be here with my family.”
Lewis has been playing at an incredibly high level and so consistently over the past year. The University of Arkansas graduate said this win ranks very highly with her other eight victories. 
In her last 22 events, she has recorded two wins, six runner-ups and 19 top-10 finishes.
“Considering what’s happened the last few months and being here in Texas, this is one of the best ones,” said Lewis.
The Woodlands, Texas native held a share of the lead with Meena Lee to start the day.
Today marked the sixth time in her career that Lewis has won after leading through three rounds. The six-shot win was also the largest margin of victory on Tour since Jiyai Shin’s nine-shot victory at the 2012 RICOH Women’s British Open.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” said Lewis of her runaway win. “I kind of have these mini goals in the back of my mind, like a bogey-free tournament or a certain number of putts, just kind of things that aren’t necessarily score related.  
"One of them was kind of taking a tournament and running away with it, and that’s what I’ve wanted to do it now for a year.  So to be so close the last few weeks and then to come out and shoot 64.
"To do it here at home, in front of all these fans was pretty cool.”
Lewis started the day with a birdie on the par 5 3rd hole to kick-start her run at separating herself from a jam-packed leaderboard. No. 13 Michelle Wie, who was playing five groups ahead of Lewis, put up a fight of her own down the stretch. 
The three-time LPGA Tour winner eagled the 10th hole for the third time this week to cut Lewis’ lead two shots, then to one shot with a birdie on the par 4 12th hole.
Lewis counter punched with a 25ft eagle putt on the 7th hole to extend her lead to three shots. She followed up with two consecutive birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 and made the turn with a four-shot lead at 14-under par.
“I got off to a slow start, but the eagle on 7 just really got things going in the right direction, and then just I never let up,” said Lewis.
She picked up her only bogey of the day on the par 3 11th hole, her first bogey in her last 47 holes. She bounced back with a birdie on No. 12 and had a stellar par save on 15 after hitting her tee shot in the hazard and then stuck her third shot to three feet.
“I never let the hammer down, and making par on 15 was huge,” said Lewis. “After hitting what I thought was a good tee shot and then going in the water, but still making par, I mean that just  summarised the day.”
She walked to the 18th tee with a five-shot lead after her fifth birdie of the day on No. 17. But she wasn’t done yet. She gave the Texas crowd the finale they wanted to see with a closing birdie on 18 to close with the six-shot win.

Michelle Wie tallied her third top-5 finish of the season with a solo third showing at the North Texas LPGA Shootout.
Wie finished her day at four-under, 67, to wrap up her tournament at nine-under, despite making bogeys on her final two holes.
“It’s a little disappointing for me, but at the same time 4 under par on the last day,  I’ll take it.”
Wie enjoyed her second trip to Las Colinas and spoke highly of the atmosphere created in North Texas.
“It’s great.  You know, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of young girls, young boys out here.  It’s great out here.  And I think it’s a great opportunity to grow the game,” Wie said. 
“ I think that our tour loves Texas, and Texas people love golf, and I think it’s a perfect fit.”
Lexi Thompson recorded a final round 69 to jump into a tie for sixth for the tournament, her fourth top-10 finish of the year. Thompson will celebrate her solid week by spending some time with her fans in North Texas on Monday.
Along with her team, she will tell her story, give insider tips and play a couple TopGolf golf games for an event she calls “Red Bull Tee Time.”
“Red Bull Tee Time” was born three years ago when Lexi aspired to get closer to her fans while offering young golfers helpful advice on growing a career in the sport.  Dallas will host the first “Tee Time” for 2014, and two more events will be scheduled in North Carolina and Florida.
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