Pak gains win and Hall of Fame place

South Korea's Pak Se Ri fired a six-under par 65 on Sunday, rallying from four strokes behind when the day began to win the LPGA Michelob Ultra Classic and clinch a Hall of Fame spot. Pak finished at nine-under par 275 after 72 holes to win her 22nd career LPGA title by two strokes over Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, the co-leader after three rounds, and American Juli Inkster on the American Mother's Day.

"I told my mom (Kim Jung Sook), 'I hope I have a gift for you with a win,' but I wasn't too sure," Pak said. "I'm really happy.

"Sunday, May 9 is the best day of my life, I think."

The victory ensured the 26-year-old LPGA star a berth in the Women's Golf Hall of Fame when she becomes eligible in 2008 after her 10th LPGA season.

"It feels very special this week," Pak said. "One of my dreams come true. I was trying to join the Hall of Fame and I worked so hard for seven years.

"Today was the last point and to get it on Mother's Day, and my mom was here and I was struggling earlier this week - I think I finished great."

One final quest nags at Pak, claiming a career Grand Slam by winning at Rancho Mirage, California. Her next chance at the Dinah Shore comes in 2005.

"I have one more goal to go - at Dinah, the last Grand Slam major for me," Pak said.

Pak birdied three of the first five holes, sinking a 35-footer at the par-3 second, an 18-footer at the third and a 25-footer on the par-3 fifth.

After a two-putt bogey at the sixth, Pak had back-to-back birdies to finish the front nine, including a 22-footer at the eighth.

"Everything inside my heart said 'Make it free. Everything is clear. Just go out and play as quick as I can'. Suddenly my putts dropped," Pak said.

She birdied the 11th and hit consecutive birdies at 14 and par-5 15, all inside 10 feet, before a bogey at the 16th.

Pak held firm, parring the final two holes to maintain a two-stroke edge on Ochoa, who was in the 18th fairway as Pak putted out. Her approach bid for an equalizing eagle was short of the green and Pak had her victory.

"She's a fast finisher," Inkster said. "She usually starts off plodding, kind of gets herself in the hunt, then Sunday she let's it all go. But she's a great player."

Ochoa opened and closed the front nine with bogeys and made another at the 10th to tumble back on her way to a runner-up finish here for the second year in a row.

"It just happened so fast," Ochoa said. "I hit my driver very inconsistent and I just didn't feel right, out of tempo, out of rhythm. I think I was trying too hard in a couple of holes to make birdie and just hit it really hard."

Third-round co-leader Christie Kerr made a double bogey at the second, chipping thrice from greenside rough, and the American was nevermore a factor.

South Korea's Han Hee-Won and Australian Wendy Doolan shared fourth on 280, one stroke ahead of Kerr and Korean Kim Mi-Hyun.

Swedish stars Annika Sorenstam and Helen Alfredsson joined American Pat Hurst in eighth on 282, one stroke better than American Christina Kim and Aussie star Karrie Webb.

US 14-year-old sensation Michelle Wie fired a final-round 72 to finish on 284. She made five bogeys but sank a three-foot eagle putt at the 458-yard par-5 15th.

"It was a great week. I had a lot of fun," Wie said.

Next week, Wie faces her grade-school final tests. Next month, she returns here to defend her US Women's Amateur Public Links crown.

"After I saw how I played this week, I know what I have to work on," Wie said. "I have to work out a lot more and try and get ready for the summer."

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