Suzann Pettersen moves past Brittany Lang to win Manulife Classic
Monday 8 June 2015 07:27, UK
Norway's Suzann Pettersen claimed her 15th career LPGA title with a one-stroke victory in the Manulife Classic in Ontario.
Pettersen closed with a three under 69 at the Whistle Bear Golf Club to snap a two-year winless drought and become the first European winner in the tournament's short history.
She birdied two of the final three holes in the fourth round to edge American Brittany Lang, the event's inaugural champion who fired a final-round 65. Pettersen finished the tournament at 22 under par.
Pettersen came into the final round after going bogey free through the first 54 holes, but she got off to rough start on Sunday with her first two bogeys of the tournament in the initial five holes before settling down with back-to-back birdies to close out her front nine.
The big move came on the 12th where Pettersen made an eagle, and it proved key because of Lang's strong finish. She had five birdies and a bogey in her first 14 holes but then picked up shots at the 15th, 16th and 17th to grab the lead.
Pettersen tied things up again with a birdie at 16 and then rolled in a six-footer at the 17th to reclaim top spot, with a regulation par at the last proving enough to secure victory.
"It was a tougher day today. But I finished strong," said Pettersen, who has been in good form since returning from a shoulder injury that wrecked her April.
"I felt I played good golf this week.I made some stupid mistakes early, but I kept digging deep. There have been some tears and pain. I felt like I was bouncing my head against the wall with the injuries and such."
Colombia's Mariajo Uribe, who was seeking her first career win, finished alone in third after capping her week with a 72.
Cristie Kerr had a share of the lead as late as the ninth hole, but bogeyed four in a row to close her round with a 73 and finished tied for fourth with Minjee Lee, So Yeon Ryu and Jacqui Concolino.
