Page 33 - MIN VOS NOV 23, 2015
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SPORTS A21
Monday 23 November 2015
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Kerr wins title, Ko takes $1 million, Park going to Hall
TIM REYNOLDS winning the scoring title, long afterward, leaving it Cristie Kerr poses for photos while holding the trophy after she
AP Sports Writer meaning the only step that uncharacteristically short. won the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Cris- now remains between her But in the end, Kerr, Park at Tiburon Golf Club on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Naples, Fla.
tie Kerr was the player of and induction is complet- and Ko did enough to all Kerr won the event at 17 under par.
the week. Lydia Ko was ing her 10th season on tour come away with big prizes.
the player of the year and next year, a prerequisite for “Pretty cool,” Kerr said. “A Associated Press
pocketed another $1 mil- eligibility. lot of different honors.”
lion bonus. Inbee Park will Kerr shot four rounds in the
be among the players of “It’s been a long season,” 60s, made a 35-foot birdie
all-time. Ko said. “Up and down. putt at No. 15 to tie for the
Mostly ups.” lead, then the eagle at
One tournament, three Kerr shot a 4-under 68 and the 17th put her on top for
women celebrating. finished at 17-under 271, good.
And just as the LPGA Tour one shot better than Ger- Park was second in the
intended, the season finale ina Piller and Ha Na Jang. Globe chase, pocketing
was dramatic until the end. Lexi Thompson was fourth a $150,000 bonus. Thomp-
Kerr won the season-end- at 14 under. She and Paula son was third, taking home
ing CME Group Tour Cham- Creamer were among a $100,000 in bonus money
pionship on Sunday, taking group of U.S. Solheim Cup — though she spent much
the lead for good with a teammates who doused of the afternoon in position
12-foot eagle putt on the Kerr with champagne on to sweep both the $500,000
par-5 17th and soon wrap- the 18th green moments first prize and the $1 million
ping up her 18th career vic- after she tapped home a bonus.
tory. Her $500,000 first prize, 2-footer to end the season. “It’s been a special year
which pushed her career France’s Karine Icher was for the tour,” Ko said.q
earnings past $17 million, fifth at 13 under. Park was
almost seemed ancillary alone in sixth, good enough
given the stakes that Ko to beat Ko by three shots
and Park were playing for over the course of the en-
this week. tire season for the Vare Tro-
“Good golf is just good phy and the 27th point she
golf,” Kerr said. “It doesn’t needed for her trip to the
really matter what age it is. LPGA Hall.
I think I proved that.”
Kerr is 38, and says she “I said the Hall of Fame will
doesn’t plan on slowing be my last goal, but it really
down anytime soon. Ko is came early and I achieved
still just 18, and became pretty much everything I
the fourth player to go from set so far in my career,”
rookie of the year one year Park said. “There is plenty
to player of the year the other goals to set.”
next. The others on that list: The pressure was obvious,
Nancy Lopez, Beth Daniel all over the final back nine
and Annika Sorenstam. of the year.
Greats all, and Ko is well on Thompson had an 8-foot
her way to that same sta- birdie putt on the par-5
tus. 14th, and never got it near
“I said if I could choose the hole. Park missed a
one of the awards, I would 2-footer for par on the 12th,
choose player of the year,” then rallied with consecu-
Ko said. “To know that I am tive birdies. Stacy Lewis,
the player of the year, it’s one of three women who
an awesome feeling.” entered the week con-
Ko won the $1 million bo- trolling their destiny in the
nus for winning the Race $1 million race, gave her
to the CME Globe, just wedge a smack after
as she did last year. And needing two shots to es-
Park wrapped up a trip to cape a bunker at the 16th.
the LPGA Hall of Fame by Ko had a birdie try at 16 not
