Stanford gets back into LPGA win column
Angela Stanford won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic yesterday in Mobile, Ala., for her second career LPGA Tour title, holing a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the final hole for a 1-over-par 73 and a one-stroke victory over Shanshan Feng.
"It's been so long," said Stanford, who won the 2003 ShopRite LPGA Classic.
The 30-year-old Texan, four strokes ahead entering the day after consecutive 67s in the second and third rounds, had an 11-under 277 total on The Crossings course at Magnolia Grove. She earned $210,000.
Feng finished with a 68. Kim Hall was third at 8 under after a 69, and Hee Young Park (70), Danielle Downey (70), and Katherine Hull (73) followed at 7 under.
Stanford had four birdies, three bogeys, and a double bogey in the final round.
Champions - R.W. Eaks successfully defended his Greater Hickory Classic title in Conover, N.C., closing with a 1-under 71 in windy conditions for a four-stroke victory over Tom Jenkins (75) and Tom Kite (67).
The 56-year-old Eaks had a 16-under 200 total and earned $255,000 for his second victory of the year. He has four tour victories in the last two years.
Jenkins entered the round tied with Eaks but had bogeys on Nos. 11, 12, and 14, knocking him out of contention. Eaks, whose 61 Friday is the tour's low round of the season, made his lone bogey of the event on No. 13, but countered with birdies on Nos. 7 and 14.
Mark McNulty (69), Tom McKnight (70), and Mark Wiebe (71) tied for fourth at 11 under.
European - Ryder Cup member Robert Karlsson shot a 1-under 71 to win the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Pulheim, Germany, by two strokes over Francesco Molinari (70).
The 39-year-old Swede, who has 10 top-10 finishes this year, ended at 13-under 275 for his first win since the 2006.
Miguel Angel Jimenez had six birdies en route to a 66 -279 for a share of third with Ross Fisher (70), and Michael Campbell (70).
Fred Couples (72) and John Daly (77) finished 16 and 20 shots behind Karlsson, respectively. 