The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Park In-bee wins Evian Masters

By Korea Herald

Published : July 30, 2012 - 17:59

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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France ― Park In-bee of South Korea ended her four-year wait for an LPGA Tour title when she shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win the Evian Masters, beating veteran Karrie Webb and overnight co-leader Stacy Lewis by two shots.

It was Park’s second LPGA Tour title and the first since the U.S. Open in 2008. She finished with a 17-under 271.

“It feels great. It was four years ago but it feels longer than that,” Park said. “I finished the round with some really strong putting today.”

The 24-year-old Park made birdies on the last three holes to coast home.

“After yesterday, a lot of players were in contention so I knew I had to shoot a good score out there,” Park said. “The greens were a lot quicker than the last five years. I like the fast greens, so I think that really suited me as well.”

Lewis, who shared the overnight lead with Park, made a run at the end, but her long putt for eagle on the 18th came too late.

“I actually played really good. I had probably four or five putts that I thought I made and just lipped out,” said Lewis, who was runner-up last year to Japan’s Ai Miyazato, also by two shots. “It’s huge for me, because I didn’t play well yesterday, didn’t play my best today, and still I was right there.”

China’s Shanshan Feng made a late charge as well, shooting a 66 that also included an eagle on the 18th. She finished tied for fourth at 14 under with South Korean amateur Kim Hyo-joo (68) and American Natalie Gulbis (68).

Feng’s shot of the day drew a roar from the grandstand on the last hole when she chipped out of the bunker, and the ball looped around in a semi-circle from right to left then dropped in for an eagle.

“It was a flat lie and I had room to let the ball roll. (But) under pressure I think that’s a very good shot,” Feng said. “It’s my best round of the year.”

The pressure was on Park to respond, and she did, sinking a birdie on No. 16 to move to 15 under.

Lewis, who had been seeking her third LPGA Tour title of the year, fell behind with a poor run in the middle of her round ― she went eight holes without a birdie, including a bogey on No. 14.

This is the last Evian Masters before the event becomes the Evian Championship and the fifth women’s major in September 2013. (AP)