AMERICAN RALLIES AFTER LOSING FIVE-SHOT LEAD
CHRISTINA KIM BEATS SHANSHAN
FENG AT 2nd PLAY-OFF HOLE
Christina Kim claimed her first
victory on the LPGA Tour since 2005 by completing a wire-to-wire success
at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico City on Sunday.
The 30-year-old American wrapped up the win when she made a par
on the second play-off hole to beat China's Shanshan Feng at the Club de
Mexico Golf course.Kim entered the final round with a commanding five-shot lead but let it slip away as she carded a one-under 71 to finish on 15-under-par 273.
A bogey on the 18th left her tied with Feng, who posted a six-under 66 which included four birdies on the back nine.
Both players then made par at the first play-off hole, but Feng stumbled to a bogey on the second play-off hole, giving Kim her first title since the 2005 Tournament of Champions.
"I'm at a loss for words right now," said Kim, who previously had just two top-10 finishes on the season.
"I've been through a lot. That has brought me some comfort, knowing that with the downs come the highs."
World No 1 Inbee Park of South Korea finished four shots behind Kim and Feng in third place on 11 under after closing with a four-under 68.
American Brittany Lincicome (69) and South Korean So-Yeon Ryu (71) ended tied for fourth at nine-under 279.
Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a one-over 73 to finish tied for 15th at three-under 285.
Catriona Matthew had a disappointing tournament. finishing 19 shots behind the play-off participants
The North Berwick player had rounds of 72-74-72-74 for a T30 finish on four-over-par 292.
She birdied the first three holes in her final round but could not keep it up. She was five over par for the remainder of her round with bogeys at the sixth, eighth, 12th, 13th and 18th.
Matthew earned $9,063
The invitational field was limited to 36 players.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 288 (4x72)
273 Shanshan Feng (China) 72 67 68 66, Christina Kim (USA) 65 69 68 71 (Kim won play-off at second hole)
277 Inbee Park (S Korea) 70 70 69 68
279 Brittany Lincicome (USA) 70 71 69 69, So Yeon Ryu (S Korea) 70 69 69 71
280 Pornanong Phatlum (Thailand) 69 68 71 73
281 Jenny Shin (S Korea) 71 71 71 68, Azahara Munoz (Spain) 66 71 71 73
283 Angela Stanford (USA) 73 73 69 68, Lydia Ko (New Zealand) 78 69 74 72
SELECTED TOTALS
284 Morgan Pressel (USA) 70 72 73 69, Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 71 66 75 72 (T11)
285 Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 71 74 71 69, Michelle Wie (USA) 73 69 71 72 (T15)
291 Stacy Lewis (USA) 76 70 70 75 (T28).
292 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 72 74 72 74 (T30)
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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