Lindley secures first LPGA Tour victory
IN: News | LPGA | LPGA Corning Classic (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 26 May 2008
Leta Lindley has today won her first LPGA Tour victory after nearly fourteen years on the LPGA Tour by defeating Jeong Jang in a playoff to win the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning New York.
Lindley, who is a mother of two children under the age of four, has finished runner up on two occasions on the LPGA Tour in earlier years but over the past two seasons has seldom been in contention. For her to have handled her contention in the manner she has with such little experience will be a great boost for her. Lindley had played well in Tulsa earlier this season before a last round struggle but armed with that experience she was able to finish off better this week.
Jang had been third and runner up in her last two starts and came into this event as the favourite. Jang has battled an arthritic type of wrist injury this season but it appears that her short game has benefitted by being unable to hit as many balls as she normally would and instead practising on her short game. Her putting has improved significantly as a result.
Mi Hyun Kim and Sun Young Yoo finished in a share of third just one shot behind. For Kim it followed a runner up finish in this event last year.
The best of the Australians was Katherine Hull who appears to be getting on top of her game of late, a final round of 64 at the recent Michelob event further indication of that. Hull moved within one of the lead with a third round 68 in this event but battled a little today with a chance to win for the first time on the LPGA Tour. On a day when every other player in the top 20 was under par, Hull finished with a one over 73 and finished 11th.
Anna Rawson, who is playing with non-exempt status in 2008 had by far her best finish in her LPGA Tour career with a 15th place. Queenslander, Sarah-Jane Kenyon, was 31st and Michelle Ellis 60th.
LPGA Tour will now play the Ginn Tribute in South Carolina before the second major of the LPGA season, the McDonald’s LPGA Championship.
