Stupples wins her first major

SUNNINGDALE, England – Karen Stupples began the final round of the Women’s British Open eagle-double eagle. It was the kind of start Annika Sorenstam needed.

Stupples won her first major title with a record-tying score of 19-under 269, while defending champion Sorenstam’s attempt to become just the second woman to win all four majors back-to-back came to an end as Sorenstam finished in a tie for 13th.

This time the victory went to a homegrown talent who has been playing on the LPGA Tour for six years and won her first title in the opening tournament of the season. Now she has a major to go with it and a check for $290,880.

“It’s quite mind blowing,” Stupples said after finishing five strokes ahead of Rachel Teske. “It’s something that I never knew was going to happen.”

Stupples shot an 8-under 64 in the final round on the Old Course at Sunningdale to tie the record-low score in a major, set by Dottie Pepper at the 1999 Nabisco Dinah Shore.

Stupples was the first English winner at the Women’s British Open since Penny Grice-Whittaker in 1991 and first English winner of a major since Alison Nicholas, who won the U.S. Open in 1997.

Teske shot a 70 to finish at 14-under 274, one stroke ahead of Bowie, whose 71 gave her a 13-under total of 275.

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa (70) was fourth at 276.

Sorenstam, who had been chasing her eighth major and second this season, finished in a tie for 13th place at 8-under 280 after a final-round 71.

The Swede, who successfully defended her LPGA Championship title in June, had been attempting to join Mickey Wright as the only golfer to win all four majors back-to-back.

Sorenstam also won the U.S. Open in 1995-96 and the Nabisco Championship in 2001-02.

Wright won the 1958-59 U.S. Opens, ‘60-61 LPGA Championships, ‘61-62 Titleholders and ‘62-63 Western Opens.

“Of course I’m disappointed. I gave it all I got this week. It was tough for me. I missed a few shots here and there and I really couldn’t get it going,” Sorenstam said.