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HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland: Taiwanese teenager Yani Tseng made her
first LPGA Tour victory a memorable one Sunday, capturing the LPGA
Championship at the fourth playoff hole.
Tseng sank a six-foot birdie putt on the fourth
hole of sudden death to win the $2-million tournament, the second
major championship of the season.
The 19-year-old needed the four extra holes to
edge Maria Hjorth of Sweden, who also finished at 12-under 276.
Tseng posted a final-round 68 and Hjorth carded a 71.
After the pair parred the first three holes of
the playoff, Tseng calmly sank the putt to claim victory at Bulle
Rock Golf Course.
“I did it,” beamed Tseng, who became the
first rookie to win a women’s major since South Korea’s Se Ri
Pak won the same championship in 1998.
Tseng became the second-youngest golfer to win
an LPGA tournament. Morgan Pressel, then 18 years and 10 months old,
won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2007.
“To win my first LPGA title, and a major is
almost unbelievable,” Tseng said.
World No.1 Lorena Ochoa and Swedeish Annika
Sorenstam finished tied for third at 11-under, both carding 71.
-- AFP
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