Daniel clinches title with closing birdies

Beth Daniel birdied the final two holes in rainy conditions for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory over Juli Inkster at the Canadian Women's Open on Sunday.

Daniel, 46, finished at 13-under 275 for her 34th career title and first win since 1995. The 23-year LPGA veteran made a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th to tie Inkster, 43, at 12 under.

Daniel laid up to 104 yards on the par-5 18th, but knocked her wedge to 7 feet. After Inkster left her 12-foot birdie putt short, Daniel made a right-to-left breaking putt for the $195,000 win.

Daniel and Inkster -- both LPGA and World Hall of Fame members -- started the day tied at 9 under and battled for 18 holes at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

Daniel birdied the first and third holes to take a two-stroke lead, but missed makable birdie putts on the 10th and 11th holes to give Inkster a chance.

Inkster made up one stroke with a birdie on the 485-yard, par-5 10th, and took the lead with a two-stroke swing on No. 12.

Inkster made a 2-foot birdie putt on the 12th, while Daniel struggled to a bogey after hitting her tee shot into the thick rough on the right side.

Inkster kept the lead until No.17, when her 8-foot birdie putt on the 143-yard par-3 stopped on the edge. Daniel made her putt to move back into a tie.

Both players laid up on the 468-yard, par-5 No. 18.

Inkster almost holed her short iron, but the ball stopped inches from the cup and spun back 12 feet. She left her birdie putt a half-foot short and Daniel made her putt for the win.

Kim Saiki birdied four of her first five holes to move into a tie for the lead, but bogeyed the 11th and missed a 1-foot par putt on the 18th to fall into a tie with Grace Park for third place at 9 under. Park's 5-under 67 was the low round Sunday.

Se Ri Pak (69) birdied the final hole to finish alone in fifth place at 7 under. Jeong Jang (68) was alone in sixth at 6-under 282.

Divots: Dawn Coe-Jones, a 20-year LPGA Tour veteran who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame on Monday, birdied the final two holes for a 71 that made her the top Canadian at 1 over. ... Saiki's missed putt on the final hole cost her $20,000.

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