Lang gets 1st LPGA Tour win
Waterloo, ON (Sports Network) - Brittany Lang rolled in a short birdie putt on
the third playoff hole Sunday to get her first LPGA Tour victory at the
Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
Lang toppled Hee Kyung Seo, Chella Choi and third-round leader Inbee Park at
Grey Silo Golf Course.
Choi was eliminated on the first extra hole, then Park was knocked out on the
second hole. It came down to Lang and Seo, and Lang poured in a 5-footer for
birdie to get the victory.
She atoned for missing a shorter putt on the 18th hole that would have won in
regulation.
Lang shot a 4-under 67 to join Choi (63), Park (69) and Seo (67) at 16-under
268.
Two-time winner this season Stacy Lewis and reigning U.S. Women's Open
champion So Yeon Ryu both fired 7-under 64s on Sunday and shared fifth at 15-
under par.
The tournament looked like it was over when Lang stood over her 3-foot birdie
putt on the final hole of regulation. She pulled the putt badly, never even
hitting the hole, so it was back to No. 18 for the playoff.
Seo was in the best position to win the first time through 18 in sudden death.
She knocked her second to 12 feet at the par-5 hole, but she was unable to
convert the eagle try.
Lang, who hit her second to 20 feet, and Park had short birdie putts, but Choi
had 10 feet to stay in the playoff. She missed her putt and it was down to
three.
Once again, Seo was in the best spot. She hit her second to 20 feet and both
Lang and Park missed the green right. Park chipped to 6 feet and Lang was 2
feet closer. Seo came up one revolution short with her eagle try and tapped in
for birdie.
Park and Lang had to make their putts to stay alive, but Park wasn't up to the
challenge. Her 6-footer stayed out of the hole and she was out. Lang made her
birdie putt and it was a third trip to the 18th tee in the playoff.
Neither player hit the green in two this time, and in fact, both balls were
near each other in the left bunker. Seo blasted out to 6 feet and Lang hit
hers to 5 feet.
Seo pulled her birdie try and Lang earned some redemption from that little
miss on 18 in regulation. Lang made the putt and became a first-time winner on
the LPGA Tour.
"I just tried to stay down in the putt and have nice tempo," Lang said in a
televised interview. "I haven't been in this position much. I'm just trying to
learn.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe I finally won. I've had my chances and I
still can't believe I did it. I'm very thankful."
LPGA Champion Shanshan Feng shot a 5-under 66 and shared seventh with Anna
Nordqvist, who had a 67 on Sunday. They finished at minus-14, which was one
better than Mi Jung Hur, whose 66 in the final round gave her ninth at 13-
under par.
NOTES: Lang pocketed $195,000 for the victory...She became the first Duke
graduate to win on the LPGA Tour...The LPGA Tour heads to Arkansas next week
for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where Yani Tseng has captured the
last two titles.
06/24 20:05:42 ET
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