Posted at 11:57 a.m., Monday, March 12, 2007
Francella beats Sorenstam in LPGA MasterCard playoff
Associated Press
HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico — Meaghan Francella made a 4-foot birdie putt and beat Annika Sorenstam on the fourth hole of a playoff today to win the rain-delayed MasterCard Classic for her first victory on the LPGA Tour.Francella, making only her sixth start on the tour, began the day with a one-stroke lead. The 24-year-old American needed a birdie at No. 16 to reclaim a share of the lead and force the playoff with Sorenstam, who had bogeyed the hole earlier.
Francella, who last month missed the cut at the SBS Open, closed with a final-round, 3-under 69 for an 11-under 205. Sorenstam, making her first start of the season, had four birdies on the front nine and three more on the back before taking a bogey-5 at the 16th to finish with a 66.
Stacy Prammanasudh, within a stroke of Francella entering the final round, shot a 71 Monday and finished tied for third at 208 with Kyeong Bae (67) and Angela Stafford (67). Mexico's Lorena Ochoa had a 70 and was in a three-way tie for sixth.
