Sorenstam wins ShopRite Classic

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP: Annika Sorenstam closed with a seven-under-par 64 for a final total of 17-under 196 to post a four-shot victory over Juli Inkster at the $1.4 million LPGA ShopRite Classic.

“It’s great. I can’t believe the finish,” Sorenstam said. “I played really well on the back nine. The back nine has been my nine this week.” With a bogey-free round on Sunday that included five birdies and a closing eagle putt from the fringe, Sorenstam won for the fifth time in seven events this season. She also established herself as the heavy favourite at next week’s LPGA Championship, the second major of the season. “I don’t know if you can really put it into perspective. I would say I’m overwhelmed,” Sorenstam said.

“When you look at all the stats, it’s just something. Obviously it’s something I’m very proud of, but not something I walk around thinking about.” Inkster entered the round tied for the lead with Sorenstam and played a solid round but was unable to keep up with the streaking Swede. Inkster had four birdies, three on the back nine, and one bogey for a 68 and a solo second place finish at 13-under 200. “She doesn’t make any mistakes,” Inkster said of Sorenstam. “She’s just very consistent. She doesn’t have too many off days.

“She doesn’t struggle very much. But she’s beatable, it’s just you can’t three putt from six feet, you’ve got to make a few more putts.” Laura Davies followed a course-record nine-under 62 on Saturday with a 68 and finished tied for third with Catriona Matthew, who shot a sizzling 64 on the 6,071-yard Seaview Resort Bay Course. But no matter how hot anyone got or how low anyone went, they were not catching Sorenstam, who posted career victory number 61 to move into third on the LPGA all-time wins list.

She carded her first bogey-free round of the tournament, starting with a pair of birdies on the front nine. Sorenstam, who took home a first prize of $210,000, started the back side with a birdie at the 10th and added birdies at 13 and 17. On her finishing hole, the par-five 18th, Sorenstam was just short of the green in two and decided to putt from about three feet off the green. Her long putt rolled in for a 30 on the back nine, which allowed her to tie her own tournament scoring record of 17-under. “It was a long putt, but I can tell you the break of it, it was right to left,” Sorenstam said. afp

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