Stanford holds on for LPGA victory over China's Feng

MOBILE, Alabama: Angela Stanford squandered a comfortable cushion but sank a short par putt at the closing hole to hold off China's Feng Shanshan on Sunday and win the inaugural Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

Stanford, who held a four-shot lead heading into the final round, saw it dwindle to one stroke through 17 holes as she posted a double-bogey and three bogeys.

But her 1-over-par final-round 73 was enough to give the 30-year-old American her first LPGA victory since 2003.

She finished with an 11-under total of 277 in the $1.4 million tournament to collect a first-prize of $210,000.

Stanford also received her first champagne victory shower from Tour friends Kristy McPherson and Brittany Lincicome.

" felt great. I didn't get that my first time, the first win in '03," Stanford said. "So I think I'm pretty fortunate and very blessed to have friends out here that are so awesome and they're so sweet to hang around - they're just great.

"The final hole was a little more drama than I would have wanted, so it was a welcome treat to be greeted by my friends."

Nearly five years ago, Stanford went wire-to-wire to emerge victorious at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

A week after that win, Stanford was part of a three-way, 18-hole playoff for the US Women's Open, which was won by Hilary Lunke.

"I'm more relieved than excited," she said. "I'm sure I'll be excited later, but just relieved that I did it again."

Feng carded a final-round 68 for a 10-under total of 278, while Kim Hall was third on eight-under 280.

Feng's round included an eagle at the par-five fourth, where she chipped from the fringe and tapped in, as well as four birdies and one bogey.

She did all she could to catch Stanford with a birdie at 18, where she knocked an 11-iron to 3 feet.

"I was pretty nervous at the last hole because I had a chance to win, but I had to make a birdie.

"And I hit a very great shot, just 3 feet by the hole, and I made it. So I was really happy, but I know that was all I could do. I tried my best."

Stanford, playing in the group behind Feng, eventually made her par for the victory, but Feng said putting pressure on the leader was her intent.

"I had a couple of chances to win earlier this year, so I'm thinking about the win, so I was trying," said the rookie, who notched her best finish on the LPGA Tour. "I was close."

Source: China Daily/Agencies