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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lincicome eagles, wins in playoff

Brittany Lincicome, left, hugs Stacy Lewis after winning on the third playoff hole. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

Brittany Lincicome made a surprise victory leap into Poppie’s Pond for the second time in her career early Sunday night at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California.

Lincicome eagled the par-5 18th in regulation to pull even with Stacy Lewis and outlasted her U.S. Solheim Cup teammate with a two-putt par in fading light on the third extra hole.

“Super emotional,” Lincicome said at the 18th green after the victory. “I’m standing here, physically shaking like a leaf still. It’s over and I’m still shaking.”

Lewis had three chances to win on the 18th. She missed birdie putts from 13 feet in regulation, 15 feet on the first extra hole and 12 feet on the second.

“The initial reaction is disappointed, obviously,” Lewis said. “But I played great and I hit some really good putts there, especially at the end. … I just played solid all day, so I have to remind myself of that and not get too frustrated. It just wasn’t quite meant to be today.”

On the third extra hole, Lewis left her 103-yard approach from a sand-filled divot short of the green and her chip stopped 12 feet in front of the pin. Her par putt came up an inch short, and Lincicome two-putted for the victory – missing a 10-footer and holing out from 1 1/2 feet.

Playing a group ahead of Lewis, Lincicome hit a 5-iron from 190 yards to 10 feet to set up her closing eagle that matched Lewis at 9-under 279.

The long-hitting Lincicome, also the 2009 winner, finished with a 69.

Lewis, the 2011 champion, closed with a 70 in tricky windy conditions.

Two strokes ahead of playing partner Sei Young Kim and four ahead of Lincicome with five holes left, Lewis missed a chance for her third major title. She has 11 LPGA Tour victories and 18 runner-up finishes, three in seven starts this year.

The 30-year-old Texan bogeyed the par-4 13th and 15th – missing from 6 feet on 13 and 5 feet on 16 – and closed with three pars.

PGA Tour

J.B. Holmes used a strong start Sunday for a Houston Open victory in a three-way playoff against Jordan Spieth and Johnson Wagner.

The 32-year-old Holmes birdied the first five holes and nine of the first 12 after starting the day six shots back of Jordan Spieth.

He had a 64, the day’s low round, and won on the second playoff hole for his fourth PGA Tour victory and the $1,188,000 check.

Although Holmes’ missed birdie putt had given Wagner another chance, his short putt for par lipped out.