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A22 SPORTS
Monday 11 June 2018

Annie Park wins ShopRite

LPGA for first LPGA Tour title

GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) on a cloudy day over the putting. I like it, but it's also
— Annie Park won the Bay Course at Stockton kind of hard because it's
ShopRite LPGA Classic for Seaview to complete 54 longer and heavier. It took
her first LPGA Tour victory, holes at 16-under 197, a a while for me to get used
closing with an 8-under stroke off the tournament to the putter, but I really like
63 on Sunday for a one- record. it."
stroke victory over Sakura "I can't describe in words Yokomine, the winner of 23
Yokomine. how I feel," Park said. "It's events on the Japan LPGA
The 23-year-old Park, from my first win out on tour. I Tour, flirted with a 59 but
Annie Park celebrates after winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic
golf tournament Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Galloway, N.J. Levittown, New York, had mean, every win is very parred the par-5 18th for a
Associated Press an eagle and six birdies special, but just having my 61 to tie the course record.
family out here, my friends New Jersey native Marina
supporting me, it's just — all Alex was third at 14 under
the fans, my friends back after a 64. She made a
home, I would like to thank hole-in-one at the par-3
all of them. 17th.
Without them and having "It was just kind of surreal,"
that support, I probably Alex said. "I finally hit a nice
wouldn't have been here wedge. I hit some wedges
today." earlier in the day and I
Park began the year with didn't feel like they were
conditional status on the super solid. That one was
LPGA Tour, but her season pure."
came around in April Sei Young Kim, who broke
at the LPGA Mediheal the course record Sunday
Championship in San morning when she finished
Francisco. She qualified on her second round with
Monday, tied for 18th and back-to-back birdies for a
won more than $17,000 to 61, had a 70 to finish fourth
improve her status on the at 13 under.
priority list. Park earned $262,500,
"It's been a crazy first half topping her total of
of the year," she said. $261,096 for her first 46
"Came into the year with LPGA Tour events.
having partial status and "I think that makes it more
juggling between the special just being so close
Symetra Tour and the LPGA to home, having an LPGA
Tour. I think that Mediheal event close to New York,"
tournament really got it Park said. "It's going to
going, Mondayed in, had definitely be one of the
a great first two rounds, got memorable events that I
reshuffled into the mix. And had.
having this first win, it's been Definitely having the family
crazy." out it's very special."
Park used a long putter. She won the 2013 NCAA
"I switched to it this January, individual title as a freshman
and it's actually helped at Southern California and
me out a lot," Park said. helped the Trojans take the
"I've always struggled with team crown.q