LPGA Wraps up Season in Florida
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:18:49
Pepper is looking for her first title of the 2001 season at the $1 million, season-ending event, while Sorenstam is looking to lock up her fourth career Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Sorenstam, who has already wrapped up her fourth career Rolex Player of the Year award and the money title for 2001, is also looking to become the first LPGA player to break the $2 million mark in single-season earnings and establish an LPGA single-season scoring average record.
Sorenstam, with eight wins on the season, including two in a row, is looking to become the first player to win nine events in a single season since Nancy Lopez in 1978. Her eight wins this season is the most since Lopez's eight wins in 1979.
Joining Pepper and Sorenstam in the field are six other players ranked in the top-10 on the LPGA money list: Karrie Webb, Lorie Kane, Maria Hjorth, Laura Diaz, Catriona Matthew and Rosie Jones. Other tournament champions from 2001 who are also in the field are Laura Davies, Dorothy Delasin, Wendy Doolan, Sophie Gustafson, Juli Inkster, Betsy King, Emilee Klein, Carin Koch, Catriona Matthew, Grace Park and Wendy Ward.
Six players in this year's field are playing in the LPGA's season-ending event for the first time and looking to claim their first career LPGA victory: Marisa Baena, Moira Dunn, Cristie Kerr, Jill McGill, Mhairi McKay and Diaz.
Pat Hurst is playing in the 72-hole event even though she is seven-months pregnant. The three-time LPGA champion, who is ranked 29th on the LPGA money list, is expecting her second child on Jan. 16, 2002.
Missing from the field are second-ranked Se Ri Pak, who withdrew from the tournament due to a family illness, Mi Hyun Kim and Rachel Teske, who are back in their home countries of Korea and Australia, respectively.
Last year, Meg Mallon and Kane carded a pair of five-under-par 67s in the opening round to grab a one-stroke lead over Leta Lindley, Pepper and Sorenstam. Lindley, Mallon, Pepper and Sorenstam were knotted atop the leader board after two rounds with 139 (-5) totals, one stroke ahead of Park and Kane.
Sorenstam, with a 207 (-9) total, led Pepper by one stroke heading into final-round play. On the final day, the duo was tied for the tournament lead at nine-under-par after nine holes. Both players bogeyed the 10th hole and Sorenstam fell out of contention after three consecutive bogeys on holes 12-14. Pepper carded a birdie on the 15th hole to return to nine-under-par and seal the victory, her first of the 2000 season.
Teske, playing under her maiden name of Hetherington, carded a final-round 71 to finish second, three strokes behind Pepper at 282 (-6). Sorenstam's final-round 76 dropped her into a tie for third with Lindley at 283 (-5), while Nancy Scranton, Charlotta Sorenstam and Kane finished tied for fifth at 284 (-4).
