Neumann wins again after six years

Liselotte Neumann won her first LPGA Tour title in six years, holding off a late charge by Grace Park for a three-stroke victory at the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship on Sunday.

Neumann, the 1988 U.S. Women's Open champion, had come into the week with few expectations. Even her name on caddie Mark Scott's vest was incorrectly spelled, ``Newmann.'' But with a final-round 68 and a 15-under 273 total, she won for the first time since 1998.

The victory didn't come easily. Park, who also closed with a 68, cut Neumann's four-shot lead to a stroke twice on the back nine. But each time, Neumann held off the challenge.

``I'm so relieved and so happy,'' Neumann said. ``I don't even know what else to say.''

Laura Davies (70), Kris Tschetter (70) and Silvia Cavalleri (66) tied for third at 10-under.

Neumann said after the third round she wasn't sure if she would laugh or cry if she was victorious. In the end, she did both.

When her final putt dropped, the 38-year-old Swedish star raised her arms in victory, a wide grin on her face. She wiped away tears after hugging her caddie and then, as she made her way to the scoring tent, was doused with champagne by friend and fellow tour player Sherri Steinhauer.

It's been a long time since Neumann enjoyed that kind of celebration. She won the last of her 12 previous LPGA Tour titles in 1998, the same year she finished fifth on the money list. But she has struggled since, and entered this event 83rd in earnings. Before this tournament, she had not held the lead since the Nabisco Championships in 2002.

Neumann thought her biggest challenge might be containing her emotions and nerves carrying a lead into the final round. But she made consecutive birdies at Nos. 8-9 to extend her lead to four strokes.

But she stumbled with bogeys at Nos. 10-11, and when Park made eagle at the par-5 12th, Neumann suddenly had a battle on her hands.

Neumann responded with a birdie at the 12th to push her lead back to two strokes. Park made a 30-footer from the fringe at No. 14 to close within a stroke. But moments later, Neumann made a 10-foot birdie putt to restore a two-stroke edge.

Park made a birdie at No. 16 to close within a stroke one last time, but Neumann answered with a 6-foot birdie putt.

Park fell off the pace at the 17th when her approach shot hit a tree and she made bogey.

``All day long, (Neumann) was a couple of strokes ahead and obviously she did what she had to do,'' Park said.

With a three-shot lead, Neumann concentrated on hitting the fairways and staying in control. That vanished for a moment when she walked up the hill to the 18th green while being cheered by the gallery.

She responded with perhaps her worst putt of the tournament, yanking a 50-footer to the left and leaving an 8-footer. She rolled in that putt to claim the $150,000 winner's share.

Park settled for her fifth runner-up finish of the season.

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