Kane gains first LPGA tour win

Give Mark Messier an assist for Lorie Kane's first LPGA title.

Kane said she drew inspiration from the hockey player to win the LPGA's Michelob Light Classic today at Fox Run Golf Club.

After firing a 6-under-par 66 and taking the lead after the second round Saturday, Kane, a runnerup nine times, vowed she would win and shed her label of a bridesmaid. Today, the Prince Edward Island native shot a final-round 71 to win the tournament with an 11-under 205.

"I saw the interview Mark did when he went back to the (New York) Rangers and he said winning is an attitude,'' Kane said after pocketing the $120,000 first-place purse. "I'm a Mark Messier fan and I said, 'I'm coming in here ready to win.' I used his words to get me through.''

Kane has never met Messier, but he was instrumental in her getting her first win after finishing second nine times in her five-year career.

"After I saw the interview it made me realize I always knew I could win out, and today I did it,'' Kane said.

Kristi Albers was second, three strokes back.

Kane shot her first bogey of the tournament Sunday, but gave herself some breathing room in the 90-degree temperatures with birdies on Nos. 10, 12 and 13.

Rosie Jones took advantage of Kane's bogey on the second hole to trail by one stroke. But Jones then bogeyed No. 3 and Kane's lead never dwindled below two shots after that.

Kane's only other bogey came on the 18th, but by then the title was already hers.

Kane also had to survive a brief run by the LPGA's money leader, Karrie Webb.

Webb started the day at 3-under and parred her first seven holes before going on a birdie binge to draw within three strokes of Kane. Webb birdied Nos. 8, 10, 13, 14 16 before a bogey at 17 derailed her chances to get any closer.

"I told my caddie, Danny Sharp, I was hoping Karrie would get into the clubhouse,'' Kane said. "When you have a player like Karrie out there, it's not unusual for her to catch you. I've been caught in Karrie's web a few times and I didn't want it to happen today.''

Webb finished in a tie for third at 209 with Jones, Sally Dee and Pat Hurst.

"I wasn't really watching the scoreboard, but I knew my chances were gone when I didn't make par at 17,'' Webb said.

After Kane bogeyed the 18, several LPGA players and caddies rushed the green and doused the champion with beer to celebrate her victory.

"I'm really happy for her, she's deserved this for a long time,'' Jones said.

Annika Sorenstam failed in her bid to win the tournament for the fourth consecutive year, finishing at 213.

NOTES: Dorothy Delasin had a hole-in-one on the fourth hole. ... Kelli Kuehne's parents, Pam and Ernie, made the trip from Dallas to watch their daughter play. They were easy to spot as they were the only fans following Kuehne wearing University of Texas gear. ... It was announced that LPGA official Doug Brecht will be leaving the tour to undergo a kidney transplant.

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