PORTLAND, Oregon: Cristie Kerr sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole and defeated Helen Alfredsson and Sophie Gustafson to win the Safeway Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club on Sunday.
Kerr, Alfredsson and Gustafson finished 54 regulation holes at 13-under par 203. Alfredsson and Gustafson missed slightly longer birdie putts during the playoff before Kerr successfully made hers.
It was Kerr’s 11th career victory on the US LPGA Tour. Kerr, whose last victory was the 2007 US Women’s Open, collected a first prize of $255,000 (€172,200) from the tournament’s $1.7 million (€1.2 million) purse. Kerr rallied from four shots down going into Sunday’s final round with a 7-under par 65, the lowest round of the tournament.
She opened with a front nine of 32, then after making a bogey at 11, closed her round with birdies on four of the final seven holes.
Alfredsson and Gustafson, tied for the lead at 13-under, both made bogeys at 17 to create a three-way tie for first that included Kerr. Kerr, playing in the group ahead of Alfredsson and Gustafson, briefly took the lead when she made an uphill, 15-foot birdie putt at 18.
Gustafson forced a playoff when she dropped a 12-footer for birdie. Alfredsson, the second-round leader, followed Gustafson by making an 8-foot birdie putt. Alfredsson, who shot a final round 69, led by as many as two strokes on the back nine. Gustafson, trailing Alfredsson by one stroke heading into Sunday, pulled even by making short birdie putts at 15 and 16.
Katherine Hull (67) finished alone in fourth at 205, two strokes out of the playoff. Hull won the Canadian Women’s Open last week. Han Hee-won (66) placed fifth at 206. Annika Sorenstam (69) and defending champion Lorena Ochoa (70) were among five players to finish in a tie for sixth at 209.
Sorenstam got to within two shots of the lead on the back nine, but quickly faded and eventually finished with a double bogey at 18. Ochoa also briefly flirted with contention after making three consecutive birdies early on the back nine.
Joining Sorenstam and Ochoa at 209 were first-round leader Angela Park (70), Catriona Matthew (70) and Paula Creamer (72). Karrie Webb (71), Allison Fouch (68), Eunjung Yi (68), Laura Diaz (68), Jee Young Lee (72) and Hee Young Park (71), finished at 210.
