Inbee Park – ©Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons – Licence Creative Commons
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The Hall of Fame player finally won her bet at Aviara Golf Club, winning her 21st LPGA Tour title after finishing runner-up in 2010, 2016 and 2019. Inbee Park tied LPGA founder Marilynn Smith on the list wins and comes close to 4 wins from Se Ri Pak’s South Korean record.
“She is someone I have always admired growing up, and she is obviously always present in my heart”Park said of Pak. “Trying to follow in his footsteps is always a good thing. I am really happy to get closer to it. “
Park finished with a score of 70, (-2), for a victory by five strokes ahead of Lexi Thompson and Amy Olson – the same margin she had at the start of the day -. Park finished with a total of 274 points, having played 3 first rounds of 66, 69 and 69.
Park, 32, ranked fourth in the world, is now heading to the desert for ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage. She won at Mission Hills in 2013 for the third of her seven major titles. She also won on her first start of the year on the LPGA Tour in 2013, accomplishing the feat at Honda LPGA Thailand.
“It was a great week for me”, Park said. “It was my first week back on the course in about three months, and I played so well. I mean, I couldn’t believe what I was doing there this week. I thought this week was just kind of a preparation for next week, but I outdid myself so much. I’m just really happy. “
After making three birdies on four holes around the turn, Park bogeyed in the 12th and 13th, then recovered both shots with a 12-yard putt for the eagle on the par-4 short of the 16th. She made a three-putt on the 18th hole for a bogey.
Park gave the circuit its first international victory of the year, after Americans Jessica and Nelly Korda and Austin Ernst won the first three tournaments.
Thompson bogeyed over the last hole for a 69 and joined Olson (68) at 9 under par.
“Inbee played very well, so she was difficult to continue”, Thompson said. “But I’m happy with the situation and my game for next week. “
Jin Young Ko, ranked first, is 8 under par with a card of 70.
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To read our last article on the same topic:
LPGA Kia Classic: In-bee Park in the lead, Céline Boutier 9th
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