MOBILE, Alabama: Angela Stanford squandered a comfortable cushion but sank a short par putt at the closing hole to hold off China’s Feng Shanshan Sunday and win the inaugural Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
Stanford, who held a four-shot lead heading into the final round, saw it dwindle to one stroke through 17 holes as she posted a double-bogey and three bogeys.
But her one-over-par final-round 73 was enough to give the 30-year-old American her first LPGA victory since 2003.
She finished with an 11-under total of 277 in the $1.4 million tournament to collect a first-prize of $210,000.
Stanford also received congratulations from Tour friends Kristy McPherson and Brittany Lincicome.
“I think I’m pretty fortunate and very blessed to have friends out here that are so awesome and they’re so sweet to hang around — they’re just great,” Sanford said.
“The final hole was a little more drama than I would have wanted, so it was a welcome treat to be greeted by my friends.” Nearly five years ago, Stanford went wire-to-wire to emerge victorious at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
A week after that win, Stanford was part of a three-way, 18-hole playoff for the US Women’s Open, which was won by Hilary Lunke.
Feng carded a final-round 68 for a 10-under total of 278, while Kim Hall (69) was third on eight-under 280. Feng’s round included an eagle at the par-five fourth, where she chipped from the fringe and tapped in, as well as four birdies and one bogey.
She did all she could to catch Stanford with a birdie at 18, where she knocked an 11-iron to three feet.
“I was pretty nervous at the last hole because I had a chance to win, but I had to make a birdie.
“And I hit a very great shot, just three feet by the hole, and I made it. So I was really happy, but I know that was all I could do. I tried my best.” Stanford, playing in the group behind Feng, eventually made her par for the victory, but Feng said putting pressure on the leader was her intent.
“I had couple times chances to win earlier this year, so I’m thinking about the win, so I was trying,” said the rookie, who notched her best finish on the LPGA Tour. “I was close.” The trio of South Korean Hee Young Park, American Danielle Downey and Aussie Katherine Hull followed at seven-under.
