Daly-Donofrio wins first LPGA title

Heather Daly-Donofrio shot a three- under 69 on Sunday to capture her first career LPGA Tour victory at the Betsy King Classic at Berkleigh Country Club. The 31-year-old former golf coach at Yale University posted a 72-hole total of 15-under-par 273 to win by one shot over Scotland's Mhairi McKay and third-round leader Moira Dunn.

"This is a hard game and you have to hit the shots, and I knew I could do that but I was not sure that I had the mental toughness, so this is a real accomplishment for me," said Daly-Donofrio, who earned $120,000 for her breakthrough triumph. "This is a real hurdle to get over."

Daly-Donofrio also had to overcome physical obstacles this week, as severe lower back pain nearly forced her to withdraw before Thursday's first round.

"The first couple of days it was bad, but at this point I guess everyone should have a bad back then," joked Daly-Donofrio, who wound up shooting 65 to lead after the first 18 holes.

Four birdies on the front nine, the last coming on a 30-foot putt from the back of the green at No. 8, lifted Daly-Donofrio to 15-under. She stumbled with a bogey at the 12th but quickly recovered the lost stroke at 13 after a lob wedge approach to six inches. She closed with five straight pars.

"I feel pretty confident right now in my ball striking and I feel so much better now that the pressure is off," she said.

McKay and Dunn, who finished together at 14-under 274, were also in search of their first victories on tour. McKay put herself in good position early on the back nine but a balky putter cost her down the stretch.

Dunn, on the other hand, fell out of serious contention with a two-over 37 on the front nine.

McKay was solid over the first 14 holes with three birdies, including an 18- footer at the 12th. She chipped to a foot at the par-five 13th for a birdie that tied her for the lead with Daly-Donofrio at 15-under par, but then missed the green with her approach at 15 and two-putted from 12 feet for just her fourth bogey of the tournament.

McKay failed to convert great chances to regain a share of the lead at the final two holes. She missed a tricky four-footer for birdie at 17 then shoved a three-foot birdie try by the right side of the cup at the 18th.

"I am disappointed the way that things happened in the end," said the 26-year- old McKay, who notched her second runner-up finish of the season. "But you know that is the game of golf and they say that which does not kill you only makes you stronger. Or so I am told."

Dunn, 30, held a two-shot advantage after three rounds but dropped out of the lead for good with a double-bogey at the third hole and a bogey at the fourth. She surged back to where she started at 14-under with birdies at holes five, seven and eight, only to double-bogey again just before the turn.

Dunn made six pars in a row before birdieing the 16th and 18th to secure her second runner-up showing in her last three starts. She also tied for second at the Wendy's Championship for Children two weeks ago.

Catriona Matthew shot a final-round 70 to finish alone in fourth at 13-under.

Mi Hyun Kim, the winner of the 1999 Betsy King Classic, finished fifth after firing a seven-under 65 that included an ace with a five-wood at the 193-yard third hole. She added birdies at the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth to set the nine-hole course record of 29.

Tournament host Betsy King, 1998 champion Rachel Teske and last year's winner Michele Redman were among those tied for 14th place.

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