World No. 2 Park In-bee captured her 14th career LPGA Tour victory on Sunday in Texas.
Park claimed the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout in Irving, Texas, for her second win of 2015. She shot a four-round total of 15-under 269 to beat fellow South Korean Park Hee-young and American Cristie Kerr by three strokes at Las Colinas Country Club.
Park In-bee, who shot a bogey-free final round of six-under 65, joins South Korean rookie sensation Kim Sei-young and world No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand as the only LPGA golfers with multiple victories in 2015.
In 11 LPGA events so far, five different South Koreans have combined for seven victories. Park, the 2013 champ of this tournament, cashed in US$195,000 in the winner’s check.
Park shared the third-round lead with Lexi Thompson at nine-under, with three others just one back heading into the final round. The South Korean wasted no time moving out in front, picking up three birdies on the front nine.
It was much the same story over the final nine holes, as Park made another three birdies, including one on the final hole.
Park Hee-young, who began the day tied for sixth, caught fire with an eagle and a birdie on the front nine. She finished her day with two straight birdies but couldn’t get any closer to the eventual champ.
Lee Il-hee was the other South Korean in the top 10. She shot a 66 in the final round to finish alone in 10th at eight-under 276.
Park said her birdies at the par-4 12th and the par-4 15th were keys to her victory.
“I had missed short putts on the fourth and fifth holes, and I figured it wasn’t going to be my day on the greens,” she said. “But I made two crucial putts on the back nine. For three of the four days, I managed to keep my putts under 30. I’ve not done it this season until now.”
Park said she has set sights on a bigger prize this year.
“It’d be nice to get back to No. 1 rank or win the Player of the Year, but completing the career grand slam is more important to me,” Park added.
Park has won each of the U.S. Women’s Open, the LPGA Championship and the ANA Inspiration (formerly the Kraft Nabisco Championship) at least once. If she can win either the Women’s British Open or the Evian Championship, Park will be recognized with the career grand slam. The Evian Championship was elevated to major status in 2013.
The LPGA Tour will be on a one-week hiatus and Park said she will rest at her Las Vegas home before returning to competition at the Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg, Virginia, starting May 14. (Yonhap)
