Wie again takes second place on LPGA tour

Teenage golf sensation Michelle Wie clinched second place at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, the second time she has gained the runner-up spot on the tour this year.
The 15-year-old amateur finished three shots behind the winner, Annika Sorenstam, at eight-under 280, in the tournament that ended Sunday at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland.
This follows her second-place finish in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in February. Wie has competed in 21 LPGA events, making the cut in the last 13 and finishing in the top 20 for 10 events.
She was the only player to score below par on all four rounds, despite, she said, suffering a stomachache in the first round. She finished the first and fourth rounds at 69, and the second and third rounds at 71. Again, being an amateur, she missed out on the $164,385 prize money.
“My goal was to shoot consistent rounds under par,” Wie said. “I just felt that 68 was a good number and 69 was pretty close to that.”
Wie said she was trying to make a run for the money in the last round, and she wanted to win this year. “I just feel like I can cope with the last day pressure a lot better,” she said.
Sorenstam continued to set records, winning her third consecutive McDonald’s Championship and her ninth major. This was the sixth victory for Sorenstam in eight tournaments this year and her second major win after conquering the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March by eight shots.
Another teenager, Paula Creamer, 18, who gained her first LPGA victory at the Sybase Classic last month, was tied for third with Laura Davies at six under. Creamer finished the final round at 67.
Kim Young, Gloria Park and Kim Mi-hyun were tied for seventh place at three under. Kim Young was in second place after the third round but finished the final fourth round at four over par.

by Limb Jae-un