Stacy Lewis won in her native Texas for the first time, firing a 7-under-par 64 in the final round to capture the North Texas LPGA Shootout by six shots over Meena Lee of South Korea at windy Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.
Lewis won for the eighth time on the LPGA Tour, thrilling her family, friends and fans in the Dallas-Forth Worth area by carding six birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole in the final round to run away with the victory.
“I knew it was going to be tough today, but that’s the way I like it,” said Lewis, who rose to No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. “I knew with the wind it was going to be hard, but I just stayed patient.
“But that’s my game. I love it when it’s hard and you have to grind it out. To win here in Texas for the first time made it one of the best ones. And I’ve wanted to run away with one like this in the final round, so I checked that one off, too.”
Lee, who was tied for the lead after shooting 64 in round two and was trying to win on the LPGA Tour for the first time since 2006, could not keep up and closed with a second consecutive 70 that included five birdies and four bogeys.
Michelle Wie, continuing to play well after winning the LPGA Lotte Championship two weeks ago at home in Hawaii, finished seven shots back in third after a 67 despite making bogeys on the last two holes.
Na Yeon Choi of South Korea, who captured the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, closed with a 69 to tie for fourth with Kim Kaufman, winner of the Volvik Championship at Industry Hills on the Symetra in March, who came in with a 70.
Dewi Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands and USC shot 68 and tied for sixth with Lexi Thompson, who totaled 69, Christina Kim of San Jose and Cristie Kerr, who both had 71s, and Dori Carter and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who both closed with 72s.
