Han converts form into victory at Corning Classic
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2006 LPGA Corning Classic | Wrap | 29 May 2006
Hee-Won Han finally achieved what she has been threatening to do for most of this season, more especially in the last few weeks, when she staged a remarkable late rally to catch Meena Lee at the 72nd hole and then went on to beat her fellow countrywoman and good friend at the fourth extra hole.
Interestingly both golfers had featured in this event twelve months ago when Lee had finished second behind Jimin Kang and Han had finished fourth. Lee had won earlier this season in Hawaii while Han has been in brilliant form in recent weeks recording two fifth placings and two runner up placings in that time. The win had been telegraphed for some time.
While the brilliant Lee was always a consideration for Han in the final round, it was the tearaway leader Jeong Jang, who was the major target for everyone heading into the final day. Jang gave everyone hope as she struggled to the turn in three over and by then she had been caught and passed by Lee who made the turn in four under and sat at 13 under and shared the lead at that point with veteran Brandie Burton and Mhairi McKay.
Han and Lee were about to both unleash strong finishes to their rounds. Lee was home in two under 34 to finish at 15 under and the title appeared to be hers. It appeared Han, who was playing four groups behind her, had too much to do over the closing holes. Han is in rare form however and when she birdied the 17th from 15 feet and added another at the last from 3 feet she had joined Lee in a playoff. She went on to edge out Lee at the fourth extra hole after Lee had taken bogey.
It was Han’s fifth LPGA Tour win since joining the Tour in 2001 and she has now moved into third place on the ADT Money list.
Brandie Burton was third and Mhiari McKay fourth. The performance of the week might just go to the 45 year old Nancy Scranton who contended for much of the week before finishing 7th. At the age of 43, Scranton had twins eighteen months ago and this good finish in Corning was her second top ten of the season.
The Australians did not have a good week with none making the cut. Michelle Ellis and Lindsey Wright missed by one, Shani Waugh by two, Katherine Hull by six and Sarah Jane Kenyon by eight.
The LPGA now heads to the Shoprite LPGA Classic in New Jersey, the last event before the second major of the year at the McDonalds LPGA Championship in Maryland the following week.
