Sunday, October 10, 2010

Navistar Classic Sunday: Katherine Hull Breaks Ochoa's Record, Takes Title from Lincicome, Kerr, and Choi

Katherine Hull, my 4th-ranked player with a single LPGA victory as of late August, never went super-low at the Navistar Classic, but she kept plugging away all week. During an incredible 64-hole bogey-free streak dating back to the middle of Thursday's round, she racked up 17 birdies and chased down 3rd-round leader and playing partner Cristie Kerr (who endured a birdie-less run of 14 holes that started at the end of yesterday's round where she went +4) and Na Yeon Choi (who for the 2nd day in a row cooled off on the back 9)--and barely stayed ahead of Brittany Lincicome (who fired an 8-birdie 65 and matched Lorena Ochoa's tournament record of -18). Fellow Australian Lindsey Wright matched Mika Miyazato's low round of the week (and 18-hole tournament record), but the day was Hull's. Beating so many playing so well (26 golfers went double digits under par) has to be especially sweet after just failing to chase down Ya Ni Tseng at the Women's British Open. Hats off to Katherine Hull!

[Update 1 (6:39 pm): Here's Hound Dog's account of how Hull won.]

[Update 2 (6:59 pm): Here's a taste of how tough it is to win on the LPGA these days. Amy Yang only missed 6 greens all week (heck, I can do that in 9 holes!), yet because of a +3 stretch over her 1st 7 holes Saturday was too far behind for her fantastic 66 today to allow her to accomplish what Y.E. Yang was able to do over in Korea.]

[Update 3 (7:37 am): Mika Miyazato couldn't quite give herself her 2nd win in as many weeks for her 21st birthday today, but she still played fantastic for the week!]

[Update 4 (7:39 pm): Here's Bill Jempty.]

[UPdate 5 (10/11/10, 9:00 am): Here's Hound Dog's epilogue.]

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