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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, May 17, 2010

Pak ends win drought in Alabama rain

 •  Merkle captures fourth Jennie K.



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Se Ri Pak hugs her caddy after winning the LPGA Bell Micro Classic, which was shortened to 54 holes due to heavy rain.

MICHELLE ROLLS-THOMAS | Associated Press

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MOBILE, Ala. — It was like the old days for Se Ri Pak, coming up with a clutch shot when she needed it and carrying the day when it came down to a playoff.

Pak ended a three-year victory drought with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff with Brittany Lincicome yesterday in the rain-shortened Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

Pak, the Hall of Famer from South Korea, used a nice bunker shot to set up the putt that sealed her 25th career win and first since she won the 2007 Owens Corning Classic.

Pak hit a fairway bunker shot from about 170 yards to 10 feet to give herself the winning birdie chance on the par-4 18th playoff hole, while Lincicome saved par with a long downhill putt.

"I've been here so many times, but I think I've been having a hard time the last couple of years," said Pak, 6-0 in playoffs. "I'm trying to get back the way I (was). I'm trying to get myself to better momentum. I work really hard every single day, every single moment, every single tournament.

"I knew this day was going to come. All I could do is be patient and work hard."

The tournament was cut to 54 holes after rain washed out the fourth round.

The sodden course received about 4 inches of rain overnight and it was still drizzling throughout the playoff on No. 18.

"I asked the rules official, 'How many times has somebody ever played the same hole before?' " Lincicome said. "She was like, 'Please, let's not go there.' "

Suzann Pettersen also made the playoff, but dropped out with a bogey on the second hole and headed to the clubhouse at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

The three playoff contenders had combined for seven pars, one bogey (Lincicome) and one birdie (Pak) on 18.

All three parred the hole on the first playoff, and Pak and Lincicome did it again the next time. Pettersen barely got her third shot onto the green on the second playoff to drop out with a bogey.

Honolulu's Michelle Wie finished last among the 73 players who made the cut. She shot 5-over 221, and won $2,530.

Jiyai Shin, Chella Choi and Amy Yang stuck around to cheer on their fellow Korean, clutching champagne bottles in hopes of a celebration.

"I don't know if I've ever seen that before where we celebrated together," Pak said. "That really makes it special."

PGA TOUR

TEXAS OPEN

SAN ANTONIO — Australia's Adam Scott made the Texas Open his first PGA Tour victory in two years, shooting a combined 11-under 133 in a 36-hole finale to edge Fredrik Jacobson by a stroke.

The 2008 Byron Nelson Classic winner, Scott overcame two early bogeys with an eagle on the par-4 17th in his third-round 66, then built his lead with six birdies en route to a closing 67.

Scott survived a closing bogey when Jacobson missed a 16-footer from the fringe on No. 18 that would have forced a playoff.

Scott finished at 14-under 274 and earned $1,098,000 for his seventh tour victory.

Jacobson closed with rounds of 65 and 70.

ELSEWHERE

Regions Charity Classic: Dan Forsman won his second Champions Tour title, making an eagle and four consecutive birdies on the front nine on his way to a three-stroke victory at Hoover, Ala. After shooting a tournament-record 10-under 62 in the second round, Forsman closed with a 6-under 66 to finish at 20 under.

BMW Charity Pro-Am: Justin Hicks won his second career Nationwide Tour event, closing with a birdie for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke victory over four players in rainy Greenville, S.C. Hicks finished at 20 under.

Mallorca Open: Sweden's Peter Hanson beat Spain's Alejandro Canizares in a playoff of the European PGA event at Son Servera, Spain. Hanson won with par on the first extra hole after he and Canizares shot 4-under 66s to finish at 6 under.

Ladies German Open: England's Laura Davies won her 74th worldwide title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory at Munich, Germany. Davies finished at 11 under.

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