Pak's stellar finish clinches third title of '02
KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- South Korea's Se Ri Pak birdied the final four holes Sunday for a 9-under-par 63 and a tournament-record 21-under 267 total in the Betsy King Classic.
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| Se Ri Pak captured her third LPGA Tour title of 2002 Sunday. (Allsport) |
The 24-year-old star matched the course record of 63 set by Tina Barrett in 2000, and broke the tournament record of 18-under 270 set by Annika Sorenstam in 1996.
Pak achieved her mark despite consecutive bogeys on the second and third holes. She parred No. 4 and then made a 30-foot eagle chip on the par-5 fifth hole.
"It was important to par that hole," Pak said. "The eagle got me back on track. I still don't think this is my best for the season."
Pak, who started the day two strokes behind Australia's Michelle Ellis, also had the best 72-hole score on the Tour this year, topping Sorenstam's 19 under in the Evian Masters.
"I just feel really good right now," Pak said. "My swing feels great. Each day, I swung the club better."
Angela Stanford closed with a 66 to finish second at 18-under 270, her first top-10 finish of the season. Australian star Karrie Webb had a 69 to finish third at 16 under, and Ellis, winless on the LPGA Tour, shot a 74 to tie for sixth at 13 under.
"I just wanted to take it one swing at a time," Stanford said. "I feel a lot better about my career now, and I can just go out there and play. I figured as well as I could make birdies I had a chance."
Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who topped the Futures Tour money list to earn a 2003 LPGA Tour card, closed with a 70 to tie for 14th at 10-under 278. The 20-year-old Ochoa won three times on the developmental tour after winning an NCAA-record eight titles this season for the University of Arizona.
Defending champion Heather Daly Donofrio shot 73 for an even-par 288 total, tying tournament host Betsy King (75).
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