Skinner Irons Out Victory

Val Skinner salvaged the 18th hole with a great iron shot after a botched drive to beat Kris Tschetter by two strokes and win the $1.2 million Sprint Championship.

Skinner shot a 5-under-par 67 to finish at 15-under 273 for her sixth victory in 13 years on tour. The $180,000 first prize was her biggest payday.

She arrived at the 18th tee with a threestroke lead over Tschetter, the thirdround leader. But instead of playing safely, Skinner drove into water along the left side of the fairway.

After her drop and penalty stroke, Skinner’s third shot to the 452-yard par-5 shot still left her in the right rough, 136 yards from the pin.

Tschetter, meanwhile, was eyeing a 30-foot putt for eagle and imagining a three-stroke swing that would force a playoff.

Skinner, however, powered a 9-iron out of the rough to 4 feet of the cup, allowing her to save par. Tschetter’s eagle attempt just missed, but Skinner assured her victory with the pressure shot at the pin.