Yi wins Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2009 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic | Round Four | 06 Jul 2009
Yet another South Korean golfer has an LPGA Tour title to her name. Eunjung Yi today defeated Morgan Pressel in a playoff to win her first LPGA Tour event at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic outside of Toledo in Ohio.
The 21-year-old winner of the 2005 US Public Links Championship joined the LPGA Tour in 2008 after two seasons on the Futures Tour. Until today she had only limited status on the LPGA Tour but this important victory secures her immediate future.
In 23 career starts to date on the LPGA Tour Yi had never finished better than 11th but this week a third round of 61 set up a four shot lead heading into the final day.
Yi appeared to have the event to herself when she birdied two of her first three holes but a strong finish by Pressel and perhaps the expectation of such a significant victory would see her eventually finish in a tie with the much more experienced although younger Pressel.
Pressel’s cause was assisted by a birdie at the 16th and an eagle at the 17th, forcing Yi, who was playing in the group behind, to par the final two holes to ensure the playoff. The playoff was over almost before it had started with Yi birdying the first extra hole for the title.
Michelle Wie gave herself a chance of victory with a final round of 64 to eventually share third with Song Hee Kim and Seon Hwa Lee while two of the game’s heavyweights, Suzann Pettersen and Yani Tsang confirmed their readiness for next week’s US Open by finishing in a share of 6th.
Lindsey Wright continued her recent good form by finishing as the leading Australian in a share of 8th with Mikaela Parmlid, Nicole Castrale and pre-tournament favourite Lorena Ochoa.
Sarah Kemp followed up her good week last week by finishing 12th after leading earlier in the tournament. Katherine Hull and Rachel Hetherington were 29th and Anna Rawson 77th.
The LPGA Tour moves to Pennsylvania for the US Women’s Open at Saucon Valley Golf Club in Bethlehem.
