Thunderstorms and heavy rains today and anticipated for tomorrow in Mobile forced the tournament organizers to shorten the Bell Micro LPGA Classic to 54 holes and send the 3 players tied for the lead--Se Ri Pak, Suzann Pettersen, and Brittany Lincicome--out to play the 18th hole in a playoff. It took 3 tries to decide it, but in the end Pak got her 3rd career victory at Magnolia Grove by sinking a birdie putt to knock Lincicome out, bringing her playoff record to 6-0 and her career win total to 25 in the process.
Just the LPGA's luck that the 1 week terrible weather interfered with a great final-round free-for-all, it came when they actually have 2 events in a row on the schedule! Getting everyone from Alabama to New Jersey potentially on a Wednesday just wouldn't be feasible. So congrats to Se Ri Pak--and congrats to Karen Stupples, Karine Icher, Na On Min and Grace Park for moving up the money list enough to get into the Sybase Match Play Championship, as well!
[Update 1 (10:58 pm): Hmm, that repeat-the-18th thing in a playoff was pretty popular today. On the KLPGA, Soo Jin Yang won the 1st major of the year by defeating amateur Eun Joo Lee on--wait for it--the 3rd go-round! Comparing Happy Fan's play-by-play of the KLPGA major to Hound Dog's of the LPGA event (and keeping Lincicome's interview in mine), it seems like there's one constant: nerves!]
[Update 2 (11:03 pm): Here are Bill Jempty and Brent Kelley on Pak's win.]
[Update 3 (11:11 pm): Check out the photos and commentary at Seoul Sisters.com! Can't wait to see what splash page Happy Fan comes up with!]
[Update 4 (11:22 pm): Nice job by Jason Sobel in his Weekly 18, giving the LPGA prime billing and putting Pak's win ahead of Scott's.]
[Update 5 (11:59 pm): Here's Charlie Rymer's description of Se Ri's winning approach shot from the fairway bunker on 18.]
[Update 6 (5/17/10, 9:21 am): Great piece by Randall Mell on Pak's victory and legacy.]
[Update 7 (9:56 am): Here's Hound Dog's epilogue.]
[Update 8 (4:48 pm): Here are Golf Central's highlights from the playoff.]
[Update 9 (4:50 pm): As usual, Tommy Hicks's reporting was excellent.]
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