Alfredsson gains first win for 5 years

Helen Alfredsson shot a 2-under 70 Sunday and picked up her first victory since 1998 after Pat Hurst's double bogey on the final hole of the Longs Drugs Challenge.

Alfredsson made an 18-inch par putt on the 18th hole at the Lincoln Hills Club to finish at 13-under 275 and defeat Hurst, Grace Park, Rachel Teske, Se Ri Pak and Yong Yeon Lee by one stroke.

"When you haven't been playing well, you want it so much" said Alfredsson, whose previous best finish in 17 tournaments this year was an 11th. "If this is a dream, don't wake me up."

Hurst appeared to have the tournament won when she took a one-shot lead into the final hole. But she four-putted from the fringe for a double bogey, missing her bogey attempt from 18 inches, allowing Alfredsson to get the victory.

"I didn't close the door," Hurst said. "All I was trying to do at 18 was two-putt. I never thought I would have been that short (on a poor approach shot)."

Park had the best final-round score of the second-place finishers with a 69. Hurst, Teske, Pak and Lee all shot 70. Alfredsson began the day with a one-stroke lead.

Alfredsson, who entered the final round with a one-stroke lead, was 1 over for the day after nine holes but recorded three birdies on the backside. She had her last birdie at the par-5 15th and made par over the final three holes.

"I have mixed emotions, you don't like to see someone finish like Pat finished," said Alfredsson, who nearly doubled her previous winnings this year with the $150,000 check. "She had played well all day. I wish I could have just won outright, doing something like making a birdie."

The final hole was a nightmare for Hurst. After a good final tee shot, she was 140 yards from the pin. Her wedge into a long downhill green was way short, landing on the fringe. Looking to lag a long first putt, Hurst left it very short. Her next putt for par, which would have won the tournament, wasn't much better. She then misread a 3-footer, essentially giving the victory to Alfredsson.

"All three of those putts were going downhill. I thought they would be faster than they were," Hurst said. "I thought the green was firm and the ball would roll faster. None of them did."

Divots: Defending champion Cristie Kerr was never in the hunt. She shot a final round 75 and was 12 shots behind Alfredsson. ... Celebrating her 40th birthday, Laura Davies had a 71 for a 281 total. Two-time winner Juli Inkster had a final round 69.

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