Gustafson ends winning drought at CVS
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2009 CVS Pharmacy LPGA Challenge | Round Four | 28 Sep 2009
Sophie Gustafson has won her fifth LPGA Tour title, and her first in six years, with an impressive four shot victory over Lorena Ochoa at the CVS Pharmacy Classic in Danville, California. Korean golfers Amy Yang and Sun Young Yoo tied for third one shot behind Ochoa.
Gustafson led this event form her opening round of 65 and although joined in the lead by the world number one Ochoa at the end of yesterday’s third round she outplayed her more illustrious opponent in today’s final round.
Gustafson’s fast start to her final round put paid to the chances of those chasing her, two birdies and an eagle in her opening five holes providing a cushion which allowed her to make one or two mistakes and still win comfortably.
While winless for six years, Gustafson has played well in 2009, more especially in the past two months, where she has been runner up at the Evian Masters, 10th at the Canadian Open and 6th last week at the Samsung event.
Ochoa has been getting closer to winning again after what had been by her standards a disappointing run of form during the middle of the season. She has another god chance to get back in the winner’s circle when she defends her Navistar title this week in Alabama.
Former Australian based Korean, Amy Yang, recorded her best ever finish in an LPGA Tour event when she tied for third with Sun Young Yoo. 20 year old Yang earned US$64,000 for her efforts and moves to 45th on the money list.
The leading Australian this week was Katherine Hull who recovered from a slow start to finish in a share of 8th. Three birdies in her last four holes saw Hull bounce back from a double bogey at the 14th in today’s final round. It was only Hull’s third top ten of the season.
Karrie Webb was 18th, Sarah Kemp 53rd and Wendy Doolan 67th.
The LPGA will now move to Prattville Alabama for next week’s Navistar event.
