Shin clinches win at ADT, Ochoa finishes tops in money
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- As she walked down the 18th fairway Sunday, Ji-Yai Shin kept her thoughts away from becoming an instant millionaire. Or, in her nation's currency, an instant billionaire.
Her thoughts?
"Just save the par," she said.
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She did that with ease, holding off Karrie Webb and an ailing Paula Creamer to win the ADT Championship with a final round 2-under par 70. Shin captured the $1 million winner's prize, by far the biggest on tour, with a four-birdie, two-bogey day.
In her native currency, Shin collected 1.493 billion -- yes, billion -- South Korean won.
That's a lot of won for one win.
"A really special year for me," said Shin, who isn't even a full-fledged member of the LPGA yet but won three times on that tour this year, has 21 wins worldwide since 2007 and will likely be an instant LPGA front-runner in 2009.
Webb finished one shot back and Creamer, who spent Saturday night in the hospital because of an inflamed abdominal wall, finished tied for third with Seon Hwa Lee after both shot 74s.
Creamer needed to win Sunday to finish atop the money list, something no American player has done since Betsy King in 1993. Instead, Lorena Ochoa, who didn't make the ADT weekend, prevailed with $2,762,660. Creamer finished with $1,823,992, good for second place.
"I gave it all I had," said Creamer, who fell ill Wednesday night and could barely eat since the tournament began, plus had to down some medicine on the 13th hole just to finish Sunday's round. "I tried as hard as I possibly could. I wasn't going to quit."
Creamer made two birdies in a three-hole span on the back side, but took a three-putt bogey at the par-5 15th, essentially ending her chances at her fifth win of the year and taking the money crown.
"Really?" she yelled at herself in disbelief after the 15th, when she spent a few extra seconds on the green and slapped her left leg in disgust.
So clearly, Creamer had some fight -- just not enough.
Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
