Stanford wins HSBC Champions on 3rd playoff hole
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Angela Stanford won the HSBC Women's Champions on the third playoff hole Sunday, her first victory since 2009 and her fifth on the LPGA Tour.
The 34-year-old Texan parred the last playoff hole, beating South Koreans Jenny Shin and Na Yeon Choi and China's Shanshan Feng.
"It's a big deal," Stanford said. "I'm just thinking about home and everybody there."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stanford, who earned $210,000 for the victory, trailed Shin by a shot after the 17th when play was delayed about 90 minutes because of lightning. When play resumed, Shin hit her tee shot out of bounds, leading to a double bogey. Stanford bogeyed No. 18 to fall into a four-way tie at 10-under 278.
"I felt for her (Shin) because we've all been in that position," said Stanford, who shot a 1-under 71 in the final round. "I didn't think I'd be there at the end. I was all over the map today."
The 19-year-old Shin turned professional in 2010 and has competed in 18 LPGA tournaments. She said her inexperience may have led to jitters at the 18th.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The tee shot on the 18th hole really threw me off," Shin said. "The playoff wasn't that bad. I wasn't as nervous as I was on the 18th."
Top-ranked Yani Tseng finished fifth, one shot behind after 72 holes. Michelle Wie had another disappointing round with a 75 and trailed the leaders by 32 shots. Wie finished next to last, ahead of only Singapore amateur Sock Hwee Koh.
Tseng began the third round at 1 under. But a 5-under 67 on Saturday and a 4-under 32 on the first nine holes Sunday put her in a brief tie for the lead with Shin. A double bogey on 10 and another bogey on 14 pushed her back down the leaderboard.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tseng had seven LPGA Tour victories last year and started this year with a win at last week's LPGA Thailand. She has yet to win the HSBC Women's Champions since it started in 2008.
"I'm kind of upset," Tseng said. "I feel disappointed because I didn't win this tournament. I was very close this year. I played great front nine, but hopefully next year I won't be disappointed."
Stanford started the day tied for the lead with Shin and Katie Futcher, who faltered Sunday with five bogeys for a 76 and finished tied for 11th.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Karrie Webb, who won last year in Singapore, shot a 70 to finish nine shots off the lead.
The tournament featured a field of 63 golfers, including 18 of the 20 top-ranked players when play started Thursday. Paula Creamer, the No. 5-ranked player, withdrew after the second round for family reasons.