Posted on: Monday, November 1, 2004

Park shoots 65 to win South Korea tourney

Associated Press

Grace Park won the CJ Nine Bridges Classic yesterday at Jeju, South Korea, shooting a 7-under-par 65 for a five-stroke victory and giving her game a big boost after a collapse in the final round two weeks ago.

"I can't describe my happiness with words," the South Korean star said.

Park, a former Hawai'i resident, finished at 16-under 200. Top-ranked Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch, both of Sweden, shot 67s and tied for second at 11 under. Sorenstam entered the day three strokes off the lead and closed her round with an eagle.

Defending champion Ahn Shi-hyun (69) was at 10 under, tied for fourth with Lorena Ochoa (67) and Jeong Jang (68).

Park's performance at The Club at Nine Bridges was far different from her play at the Samsung World Championship in California two weeks ago. Sorenstam overcame a three-stroke deficit with five holes left to beat Park by three shots.

Park bogeyed the first hole before rallying and finishing with eight birdies, including one on the last hole.

Sorenstam had a bogey on the 17th hole before finding the green on her second shot of the par-5 18th and making an eagle putt.

Park won $202,500 and was presented with a traditional South Korean dress when she accepted her prize.

ELSEWHERE

Volvo Masters: Ian Poulter of England won at Sotogrande, Spain, beating Sergio Garcia on the first playoff hole. Garcia missed a 4-foot putt on the final hole of regulation that would have given the Spaniard the victory. The two were tied after 72 holes at 7-under-par 277 after final rounds of 1-under 70. Scotland's Alastair Forsyth took a three-stroke lead into the final round but closed with a 74. He finished one stroke behind Poulter and Garcia. Garcia had a chance to win when he hit his 8-iron approach to 4 feet at the 18th. But he missed his birdie putt and Poulter matched his par to force the playoff.

Nationwide Tour Championship: Nick Watney completed his late-season charge to the big leagues with a 3-under 69 at Prattville, Ala., moving him up to No. 5 on the final list to earn a PGA Tour card. Watney finished three shots ahead of Brett Wetterich. The top 20 players on the money list are exempt on the PGA Tour next year. Wetterich started the final tournament at No. 23 on the money list, but moved up to No. 10 with his runner-up finish. A year ago, he was one of two players bumped out of the top 20 on the final day.