Baena down so long, now at top
Marisa Baena completed a surprising run from 60th seed to first-time LPGA Tour winner Sunday, holding off South Korean rookie Meena Lee 1-up in the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship.
A year after seriously considering giving up tour play, Baena beat six higher-seeded opponents for the breakthrough victory on Hamilton Farm’s hilly Highlands Course. The 28-year-old Colombian earned $500,000 for her first victory in 152 career LPGA Tour events and also received a three-year tour exemption.
“It has been a great week,” Baena said. “I have no words.”
In the morning semifinals, Baena rallied to beat eighth-seeded Candie Kung 2-up. Baena opened the 64-player tournament with a victory over fifth-seeded Natalie Gulbis and also beat No. 37 Grace Park, No. 21 Jennifer Rosales and No. 29 Karrie Webb.
The 28-year-old Baena overcame a two-hole deficit with five to play against Kung, the 23-year-old Taiwanese player who rallied from 2-down with four to play to beat top-seeded Annika Sorenstam in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon.
After Kung parred the par-3 12th and birdied the par-4 13th, Baena won the par-5 14th with a birdie and pulled even with a par on the par-4 16th. Baena took the lead with a par on the par-3 17th and ended the match with another par on the par-4 18th.
In the other semifinal, Lee beat 14th-seeded Wendy Ward 1-up. Ward, from Edwall, Wash., won the third-place match, rallying to defeat Kung 2 and 1.
PGA Tour
No way Jim Furyk was letting go of this victory. Not even to Tiger Woods.
After finishing second three times this year, including a devastating loss last weekend, Furyk answered Woods’ charge with three straight birdies and hung on to win the Western Open in Lemont, Ill. It was his first victory since the 2003 Buick Open.
After tapping in for a birdie, Furyk took off his cap and shook hands with third round co-leader Ben Curtis.
Furyk then turned and pumped his fists to the cheering crowd before sharing a long hug with caddie Fluff Cowan.
Furyk shot a 2-under 69, finishing the tournament at 14-under 270. Woods (66) was two strokes back at 272, though he did go over the $50 million mark for career earnings.
Curtis faltered in his attempt to win for the first time since the 2003 British Open, shooting a 3-over 74. He finished third, only his second top-10 finish since Royal St. George’s.
Champions Tour
Ron Streck shot a 4-under 67 to win the Commerce Bank Championship at East Meadow, N.J., by three strokes, making him the first player with a victory on the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour.
The 50-year-old became the first wire-to-wire winner on the Champions Tour this year and his three-tour feat only adds to his golf fame.
He was the first player to use a metal wood in competition on the PGA Tour in 1981.
Jim Ahern had the best closing round, a 6-under 65, and he caught Streck at 14 under on the 15th hole, but it wasn’t enough as he finished at 13-under 200, three behind Streck after three trips around the 6,989-yard Red Course at Eisenhower Park.
Dan Pohl (68) and Craig Stadler (69) were another stroke back at 201, while Tom Jenkins had a 70 and was at 11 under.
European Tour
Kenneth Ferrie shot a 2-under 70 for a two-stroke victory at the European Open in Straffan, Ireland, taking advantage when leader Thomas Bjorn shot a 14-over 86.
Ferrie shot his third straight round of 70 and finished at 3 under. Colin Montgomerie (69) and Graeme Storm (73) shared second place.
Bjorn, who had a four-stroke lead entering the day, ended up in a tie for 33rd at 6 over. He shot an 11 at the par-4 17th hole, where he hit three tee shots into the water.