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Doolan wins on fifth playoff hole

Wendy Doolan birdied the fifth playoff hole on Sunday to defeat Wendy Ward and capture the LPGA Champions Classic.

Doolan fired an eight-under 64 on Sunday while Ward posted a four-under 68 as the duo tied at 12-under-par 132. Beth Daniel and Maria Hjorth tied for third at minus-11, one shot out of the playoff.

Friday's play was cancelled due to thunderstorms, which forced tournament officials to shorten the event to 36 holes.

Ward had some 25 feet for birdie at the fifth playoff hole but the ball stayed on the lip. Doolan then ran home a six-foot birdie putt to secure her first win on the LPGA Tour.

"All I was thinking about was what I had to do at that time," said Doolan, who earned $112,500 for the win. I try to stay in the present."

The playoff almost never happened as both players took different paths to extra holes. In regulation at 18, Doolan landed her approach in a bunker and blasted out to 10 feet. She sank the clutch putt to be the first player in the clubhouse at 12-under.

Ward left herself a 25-foot birdie at the last hole to gain her third career title but she missed the putt, which forced the sudden-death playoff.

"She makes the putt, good for her," Doolan said. "I did my best and today it was good enough. Another day it may be her day."

Both players parred the first three playoff holes. Doolan hit a pitching wedge from 125 yards to 10 feet at the fourth extra hole and converted the birdie effort. Ward roped a seven-iron from 157 yards at the fourth playoff hole to eight feet, where she matched Doolan's birdie effort.

Then it was Doolan's second big putt at 18 that sealed the tournament.

"I just went to play today," said Doolan. "I always have had that belief that I can shoot the numbers I need to win. Today, I just told myself to go do what I could."

Doolan made three front-nine birdies, all from inside 15 feet, and made it two in a row at the turn with a 20-footer at 10 and a three-footer at 11.

She closed her round with three consecutive birdies, starting at 14 for her lowest ever round on the LPGA Tour.

Janice Moodie and Dottie Pepper tied for fifth at 10-under par, followed by Tina Barrett, Mhairi McKay and Annika Sorenstam, a five-time winner so far in 2001.

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