Category: LPGA

In the battle between youth and experience Annika Sorenstam prevailed over 15-year old amateur Michelle Wie. This was far from a blow-out as Sorenstam only won by three strokes with a 1-over 73 over the teenager. Starting with a five-stroke advantage, it appeared to be Sorenstam’s tournament but Wie made it difficult on the LPGA’s number one golfer.

As Wie charged through the course making her 18 holes look easy Annika looked a bit sloppy and uncomfortable as time took it’s toll on the 34-year old Sorenstam. Wie challenged the course and came in under par while Sorenstam tired late in the round bogeying three of her final four holes.

In the end however experience prevailed and Annika laid claim to a $270,000 check, a beautiful sterling silver trophy and her second major title of 2005. As Annika said when accepting her trophy at the McDonalds LPGA Championship for the third consecutive year, “I wanted it so badly. It’s a dream come true”.

Continue reading “Sorenstam Beats Up on 15-Year Old Wie to Win LPGA Championship”

Just being on the same golf course as Annika Sorenstam is enough to intimidate most LPGA golfers. Calendar-girl Natalie Gulbis didn’t feel that pressure today even though she played alongside of Sorenstam showing confidence as she birdied her five closing holes to grab a share of the lead at 5-under par 67.

Gulbis commented on the change of venue from the DuPont Country Club where the ladies contended for eleven years to this new shot-maker’s course. “My caddie and I thought 8-under would win this,” Gulbis said. “I thought pretty much anything under par would be a really good round.”

Although tied with Sorenstam walking to the final hole, Gulbis’ closing 18-foot clutch putt placed her at the top of the leaderboard with heavy hitter Laura Davies and Laura Diaz. Sorenstam finished one-stroke off the lead with a 4-under par 68 and is very much in contention as the race to win the second major championship of the year gets underway at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland.

Continue reading “Gulbis, Diaz, and Davies Share First Round lead at LPGA Championship”

Annika Sorenstam is looking to secure yet another entry into the annals of history. Her challenge this week is to defend last year’s McDonald’s LPGA Championship trophy and become the only golfer to stand in the winner’s circle three years in a row.

Annika is again the dominating factor at the second major championship of 2005. After an eight-stroke victory margin at the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this season the Swede is now looking forward to a grand slam a.k.a. the fabled “Soren-slam”.

But it’s not all about Annika this week. One-hundred and forty-nine additional LPGA players including LPGA Teaching Professionals and amateur Michelle Wie will compete against Sorenstam at the par-72, 6,486 yard Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland for a $270,000 piece of the $1.8 million purse.

Continue reading “McDonalds LPGA Championship Preview”

When Annika Sorenstam is at the top of the leaderboard it’s almost a given that she will reign victorious on Sunday. Annika has won her previous five matches where she either led or held a share of the lead going into the final round so it was no surprise that the 34-year old Swede would take control on Sunday. Sorenstam has six top-ten finishes out of the seven events she has played this year and is tied with Hall-of-Famer Betsy King for the most wins in this event.

Annika entered the final round sharing a one-stroke lead with Juli Inkster with only one-stroke separating the co-leaders from Laura Davies. At the end of the day Annika closed the door with an eagle at the 18th to finish with a 7-under par 64.

Sorenstam’s third Shoprite Classic victory gave her a $210,000 paycheck, a beautiful crystal globe and bragging rights.

Continue reading “Annika Sorenstam Coasts to Her 61st Win at Shoprite”

Juli Inkster (65) has been playing at the Shoprite Classic every year since it began and was the tournament’s first winner in 1986. Both she and Annika are two-time winners of the event. The two ladies entered the clubhouse admirably after a rain-soaked round with Sorenstam just two strokes behind Hall-of-Fame member Inkster.

Even though Inkster used five gloves and several towels by the end of her round, her score proved her to be a veteran. A dripping Inkster had this to say to the media, “Believe me, I didn’t want to be out there. But I figure if I have to be out there, I might as well make it good.”

She sure made the Bay Course look easy. Although Juli Inkster hasn’t won a tournament in two years, she showed her competitors that she could still score. With six birdies, two chip-ins and an eagle at the 16th, Juli only stumbled twice with two bogeys to finish her round ahead of Sorenstam.

Continue reading “Inkster Leads, Sorenstam within two strokes at Shoprite Classic”

The LPGA cruises down to the Jersey shore to compete at the Mariott Seaview Resort and Spa. On its 20th anniversary, the 54-hole tournament is being played on the par-71 6071 yard Bay Course and features a $1.4 million purse with $195,000 going to the champion.

Cristie Kerr won in dramatic fashion last year with a single birdie putt at the 18th to defeat Giulia Sergas and Paula Creamer. Five players were within one shot of the lead heading into the final two holes. Kerr’s playing partner, 17-year old amateur Creamer, entered on a sponsor’s exemption and nearly snatched the tournament from Kerr. As irony would have it, this is also the first course Kerr played as a professional in 1996 through a sponsor’s exemption.

Continue reading “Driving Down to the Shore for the Shoprite Classic”

The top of the leaderboard took on an international flair today as two Korean players and a Swede battled it out for the lead. It was a back-and-forth day for Jimin Kang and Meena Lee with both ladies struggling to control the scoreboard.

Kang (66) and Lee (67) were tied for the lead when they hit their tee shots at the 18th hole. Even the hole-in-one that Kang shot at the par-3 15th came after a disappointing bogey one hole earlier. Right after that exciting ace, Kang followed up with a birdie to give her a one-shot lead over Lee. A final pressure-packed double bogey for Lee sealed the deal and delivered Kang her victory.

Jimin Kang walked off with the Steuben glass bowl and a check for $165,000 while the rookie tied for second with defending champion Annika Sorenstam (69) who sniffled her way through the tournament.

Continue reading “Jimin Kang Captures First Career Title at Corning Classic”

The winds didn’t seem to have much of an effect on 32-year old swede Sophie Gustafson. Sophie turned in a 66 today with a spectacular round of eight birdies and only two bogeys on 9 and 11. She made back-to-back birdies on the 5th and 6th holes, again at the 12th and 13th holes and a triple threat with birdies on 15, 16 and 17. Gustafson putted only 24 times today and drove the ball over 300 yards. She is third in driving average on the LPGA tour this season. “You’ve got to be aggressive here,” said Gustafson.

Corning Classic champion (1988) Sherri Turner played golf in the latter part of the day escaping the morning winds. She matched Gustafson with an equally thrilling round carding an eagle at the second hole then adding five birdies as the day progressed. The 49-year old Turner only posted one bogey today to finish with her first round in the 60’s for the season.

Continue reading “Gustafson, Turner Lead; Amiee Withdraws in First Round at Corning”

Annika Sorenstam charges into action after taking a break from the Sybase Classic last week. The 34-year old Swede has already claimed victory in four of five tournaments this year and will be defending her Corning title this week. Sorenstam had fifty wins on tour at the same time last year and has added ten trophies to her display case placing her third on the all-time win list.

Corning Country Club in upstate New York has been the host of this tournament since 1979. At the first tournament the winner received a mere $15,000 with a total purse of $100,000 compared with this weekend’s first prize check of $165,000 and a total purse of $1.1 million.

Continue reading “Corning Classic Preview”