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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 7:26 a.m., Sunday, July 31, 2005

Wie cards 69 to finish third

Advertiser Staff

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Michelle Wie earned another high finish in an LPGA event by shooting a final-round 3-under-par 69 today to tie for third in the Weetabix Women's British Open in Southport, England.

The 15-year-old Punahou student recorded three birdies in a bogey-free round to complete a four-round total of 10-under-par 278. She opened with a 3-over-par 75 Thursday and followed that up with successive rounds of 67.

Jeong Jang, the leader after every round with scores of 68-66-69, shot another 69 to win for the first time in six years on the LPGA Tour.

Jang finished the tournament at 16-under-par 272, four shots ahead of Sophie Gustafson, who shot 67--276, and six ahead of third-place finishers, Wie and Young Kim, who shot 69.

Annika Sorenstam had a double-bogey 7 on the final hole and carded a 1-under-par 71 for a 279 total, dropping her to a tie for fifth.

LPGA rookie sensation Paula Creamer, 18, shot 73--282 to finish tied for 14th place.

In today's round Wie recorded pars on the first 11 holes before finally breaking through with a birdie on the par-3 No. 12. She also birdied No. 17 and 18, both par-5 holes.

This year, Wie has earned three runner-up finishes as she closes out an exceptional year competing in tournaments on sponsor's exemptions.

The amateur from Honolulu got seconds in the SBS Tournament, the McDonald's LPGA Championships, and the Evian Masters. She also took the lead into the final day of the U.S. Women's Open, advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. (men's) Amateur Public Links, and barely missed becoming the first female in 60 years to make a 36-hole cut on a PGA Tour event in the John Deere Classic.

lpga.com contributed to this report.