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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 30, 2009

Webb returns to winner's circle

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Karrie Webb ended a two-year drought with a two-stroke victory in the J Golf LPGA International. It was the 34-year-old's 36th career LPGA win.

PAUL CONNORS | Associated Press

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PHOENIX — Karrie Webb has been one of the most prolific winners in LPGA Tour history. Yet she was wondering whether she would ever win again.

Her two-year drought ended yesterday, when she shot a 5-under 67 for a two-stroke victory in the J Golf LPGA International.

The 34-year-old Australian earned her 36th career LPGA Tour title, finishing at 14-under 274. Third-round leader Jiyai Shin of South Korea shot a 70 to finish second.

"You know you still have the ability to do it, but you're just not putting the scores on the board that indicate you can still do it," Webb said. "Even less than a month ago I was still questioning that."

Another South Korean, In-Kyung Kim — the leader after the first and second rounds — finished three strokes back after closing with a 70.

Webb had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in breezy conditions on the 6,711-yard Papago Golf Course. She started the day one shot behind Shin, but took the lead just after the turn, then capped her day with a near-eagle on No. 18.

The $225,000 first prize raised Webb's career earnings to just over $14.5 million, second only to Annika Sorenstam.

Webb ended any doubt by knocking her second shot about 10 feet short of the cup on the par-5, 475-yard 18th. She missed the putt, but tapped in for birdie, then threw her fist in the air in celebration.

She had not won since her five victories in 2006.

But it was no nerve-racking effort. Webb called her week at Papago "probably the most calm I've been in my entire career."

"I know that's probably a big statement," she said, "but I never really got ahead of myself and I really was very good this week about staying right in the present and worrying about the shot that I had."

Hawai'i's Michelle Wie, in her second tournament of the season but first in more than a month, closed with a 73 — her fourth consecutive round over par. She had two birdies on the front nine, but three bogeys on the back. She finished in a tie for 57th at 8-over 296 and earned $3,989.

Webb started the day one shot behind the third-round leader Shin and briefly took the lead with an eagle on the par-5, 513-yard sixth hole, hitting a 3-wood 20 feet from the hole, then sinking the putt. Kim, though, had birdies on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes to move in front.

Kim made the turn with a one-shot lead at 13-under but hit it in the water on the par-5, 544-yard 10th hole and wound up with a double-bogey 7. Webb stormed through the opening, knocking in a birdie putt on the 10th to go to 13-under, then making another on the par-4, 355-yard 11th to open a two-shot lead on playing partner Shin.

"I kept waiting for Karrie to make a mistake," Shin said, "but she played very well."

CHAMPIONS TOUR

CAP CANA, Dominican Republic — Keith Fergus holed out with a wedge from 95 yards on the 17th hole yesterday, capping a dramatic rally from four shots down to win the Cap Cana Championship.

Fergus shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 13-under 203, one shot clear of Mark O'Meara and Andy Bean, and won his second Champions Tour event.

O'Meara led by four early but couldn't build on the lead at the seaside Punta Espada Golf Club, and was denied his first win in 35 starts on the Champions Tour.

EUROPEAN TOUR

SEVILLE, Spain — Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark shot an even-par 72 yesterday to win the Andalucian Open by three strokes.

Kjeldsen finished at 14-under 274 to hold off David Drysdale (74) of Scotland.