Inbee Park wins Evian Masters
Evian-les-Bains, France (Sports Network) - Inbee Park birdied the last three
holes Sunday to earn her second LPGA Tour victory at the Evian Masters.
Park fired a 6-under 66 and finished the championship at 17-under 271. She won
by two strokes over fellow third-round leader Stacy Lewis (68) and Hall of
Famer Karrie Webb (67).
This was Park's first victory on tour since she captured the 2008 U.S. Women's
Open at Interlachen at the age of 19. She was on a great run when she arrived
at Evian Masters Golf Club with four straight top 10s, including a playoff
loss at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
"How would I describe in words? It feels great," said Park. "It's been four
years. It felt more than four years. Just really happy."
On Sunday, Park put on a putting clinic. Armed with a 1-shot lead on the par-5
18th green, Park rolled in a 20-foot birdie to punctuate her victory.
The shame of this win for Park is that it maybe came a year too early. Next
year, the Evian Masters will become a major championship, but either way, Park
is glad for the victory.
"I'll feel really special playing this event as a defending champion," said
Park. "I'm really excited for this tournament, because they're re-doing all
the golf course and all that to make it a major."
Reigning LPGA Champion Shanshan Feng holed out for eagle from a bunker at the
18th to shoot a 6-under 66. She tied for fourth place with 2007 winner Natalie
Gulbis (68) and amateur Hyo Joo Kim (68) at 14-under par.
Anna Nordqvist posted a 4-under 68 and finished seventh at 12-under 276. Se Ri
Pak managed a 3-under 69, which was good for eighth place at minus-11.
Park, who shared first with Lewis at the start of the final round, bogeyed the
third hole, but she rebounded with a birdie at five. She drained a 10-footer
for birdie at the seventh to tie for the lead, then rattled in another 10-
footer for birdie at nine to move one ahead of Webb and Lewis.
Park extended her margin with yet another medium-length birdie putt at No. 10.
She was two clear, but that lead got trimmed one hole later when she hit a
poor bunker shot at 11 and made bogey.
Webb, the 2006 winner, and Gulbis both birdied the 13th to match Park in front
at 13-under par. Park, who played in the final group directly behind Webb and
Gulbis, kicked in a 4-foot birdie putt of her own at No. 13 to reclaim first.
Park converted a huge par save from 12 feet at the 14th to stay in the lead at
14-under.
It was after that par save when Feng holed her bunker shot at the par-5 18th
to tie for the lead. Gulbis squandered her chance at the title when she 3-
putted the 16th for a bogey. Webb also hit a horrendous first putt at 16, but
she sank an 8-footer to save par and stay one back.
Park put her foot on the pedal, starting at No. 16. She made a 4-foot birdie
putt to once again grab the lead. She knocked her tee ball inside four feet at
the 17th and made that to go two ahead with one to play.
Webb birdied the 18th to put some pressure on Park. Webb was one down, then
Lewis rolled in a 20-foot eagle putt at the 18th to join Webb at 15-under par.
After Park laid up with her second, she wedged her third 20 feet short and
drained the putt to post a 2-shot victory.
"It looked like it wasn't going to happen until the middle of the round," said
Park. "But at the end, I had a really strong finish to finish the round, so it
was a great putting day today."
Beatriz Recari (66), Ilhee Lee (69) and Paula Creamer (70) shared ninth at 10-
under 278.
NOTES: Park pocketed $487,500, which is the second-highest first-place check
on tour after the U.S. Women's Open...The LPGA Tour moves to Ohio in two weeks
for the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, where Na Yeon Choi captured the tournament
the last time it was played in 2010.
07/29 12:43:11 ET

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