Park fends off Inkster for a one shot win

Grace Park, helped by a long rain delay and two closing bogeys by Juli Inkster, won the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic today for her first LPGA victory.

Park, a 21-year-old rookie who was the U.S. Women's Amateur champion two years ago, trailed Inkster by three strokes after a 2-hour, 15-minute rain delay.

Park then birdied Nos. 16 and 17 holes to get to 14-under and after Inkster missed a 10-foot par putt on the final hole for her second straight bogey, all Park had to do to win was par the 18th.

Park put her second shot just off the back fringe, about 40 feet away, then chipped about 4 feet past and knocked it in for the one-stroke victory.

Park finished with a 2-under 70 for a 274 total and earned $125,000 for the victory.

"I needed that break," said Park, who was tiring in the sticky South Carolina temperatures that had reached close to 100 degrees on the weekend. "I called for it."

Park said she ate and watched a little television during the delay, but most importantly relaxed and regrouped.

"I missed some shots, some short putts the beginning of the round," Park said. "I needed it to redeem myself."

Pat Hurst, who slammed her wedge into a tree on 17 after driving behind it with no chance at the green, nailed a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 70 to tie Inkster for second.

Inkster, whose round included an eagle on No. 3, a 452-yard par-5, also closed with a 70.

Kristal Parker had a 71 and was fourth at 10-under 278.

Inkster appeared to have her 24th career title wrapped up. After the final round was halted by rain, she made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 12th and one from 8 feet on the next hole to go to 15-under.

She still seemed in control after a innocent lay-up to the par-5, 17th. But it skipped into thick grass behind the green and Inkster stubbed a chip. Her lead went to one when she missed a 15-foot putt from the fringe.

Meanwhile, Park playing a group behind Inkster, was on the way to a birdie, rolling a difficult chip from the right of the green within 4 feet for a tying birdie.

Inkster blew up again on the final hole, pushing her second shot right of the green, hitting it 10 feet past and missing the putt.

Inkster said she had trouble keeping track of where Park and Hurst stood because there were few scoreboards on the course.

"I'm disappointed, it was my tournament," Inkster said. But "it was kind of hard to play the last two, three holes when you have no clue where you stand. I got out of my rhythm and she caught me."

Park had her bobbles on the final hole. Her second shot hit the fringe beyond the green and she needed a delicate downhill chip and 4-foot putt to finish the victory.

Park was feeling hopeless and doubted her game a few weeks ago after missing four of six cuts. But she says a well-struck 3-wood off the 15th tee at the LPGA Corning Classic a week ago got her back on the right track.

Confidence was never a problem in the past for Park, who dominated amateur and college golf while at Arizona State. Is this the week she needed to join some the best in women's golf?

"I don't know," she said. "I'm just happy to get the win."

Golf Today's LPGA tour sponsored player, Karen Stupples, gained her best return of the year so far with a 7th place finish

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