Highlights

Kerr out-duels Sorenstam for LPGA victory

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-09-12 11:41

Cristie Kerr out-dueled Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam Sunday to win the one million-dollar LPGA Hammons Hotell Classic.

Kerr nabbed a pair of late birdies en route to a three-under-par 68 and a 14-under total of 199 in the 54-hole tournament.

She finished two shots in front of Sorenstam. The Swede, the defending champion, managed just two birdies in a two-under 69 and a 12-under total of 201.

"It's the most satisfying feeling in the world. It's a great accomplishment," Kerr said. "I definitely had a great tournament. Down the stretch on the back nine, I knew I had a pretty good chance to win, so I had nothing to lose."

Kerr had fired a sizzling 10-under-par 61 in the second round on Saturday, sending the message that Sorenstam did not have this title won just yet.

"I thought I played pretty solid today. All the credit to Cristie, she played well," Sorenstam said. "She shot four-under on the back, birdied two difficult holes, 15 and 17, so she played really well."

Kerr carded all all four of her birdies on the back nine to make up a two-shot deficit and take home first prize of 150,000 dollars.

"On the front nine I felt like I was playing OK, just on the fifth hole, par-five, I had about five feet for birdie and just hit an awful putt, pulled it really badly," Kerr said.

"It didn't feel like my stroke, so I adjusted my setup on the back nine and was able to make some really good putts coming down the stretch. But I hit it fairly good today, overall. I didn't hit it as close as I did yesterday."

Sorenstam started both sides with a birdie but could never build any momentum. She fired a nine-iron to nine feet for birdie on the par-five first and made a six-footer after another nine-iron approach on No. 10.

"When I look back, I wish I would have made a few more birdies, but I didn't make any mistakes," Sorenstam said. "When I walk away from here, I think I've got to give myself credit for that.

"I didn't really give away any shots. Maybe I could have made a few more, but it's all about mistakes, too, and I didn't make many and I'm proud of that."

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa signed for a six-under 65 and finished third at 10-under 203.