Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Monday 20 august 2018

Park reclaims No. 1 world ranking with playoff win in Indy

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Sung Hyun Park blew one
chance to jump back on
top of the world Sunday.
The South Korean star
made sure it didn’t happen
again.
After missing a short birdie
putt on the final hole of
regulation and leaving the
door open for Lizette Sa-
las, Park made a 15-foot
birdie putt on the first hole
of a playoff to win the Indy
Women in Tech Champion-
ship and reclaim the No. 1
spot.
“I’m very honored to be
ranked No. 1 and I hope
to maintain that ranking
for a long time,” she said
through an interpreter after
shooting a 3-under 69 for a
four-round total of 23-under
265. “I will try my best.”
The 25-year-old South Ko-
rean held top spot for one
week last November.
If she continues playing like
she did this weekend, Park Sung Hyun Park, of South Korea, tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship golf
could retain it for quite a tournament, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, Indianapolis.
while. Associated Press
She became the second last year. “I didn’t expect putt for the lead on No. 18 Park’s putt, meanwhile, said. “But you’ve just got
three-time winner on tour that tradition, but I was slid just to the right of the dropped cleanly in the to roll with it.” Amy Kang,
this season and now won pleased to do it,” Park said. hole. Salas then hit her ap- middle of the cup. of South Korea, wound up
five LPGA Tour titles over But she needed some help proach shot from the deep “I was not nervous at all,” third after shooting 69 to fin-
the past two years — in- to reach the winner’s circle. rough on No. 18 within five Park said. “When the other ish at 22-under 266.
cluding two majors. Salas had a two-shot lead feet, giving her a chance person missed the putt, I felt Thailand’s Ariya Juta-
And aside from a rare mishit, after a birdie on the par- to win. But after backing relieved that I would make nugarn needed to finish
which led to a double bo- 4, 13th and seemed per- away from the putt, she it.” higher than sixth to retain
gey Saturday, Park played fectly positioned to end her also missed. Salas’ fifth career runner-up her hold on the No. 1 spot.
the Brickyard Crossing Golf personal victory drought “I could have freaked out, finish might have been the Jutanugarn tied for seventh
Course almost flawlessly. of more than four years I could have done a lot of most frustrating. after shooting 66 for an
She opened with a 68 on — even after Park cut the other things, but I stayed After finishing tied for fifth in 18-under 270.
Thursday, followed with a lead to one with a birdie at patient and I hit the shot I last year’s 54-hole tourna- Thompson birdied the final
63 on Friday and started in No. 14. wanted,” she said of the ment here with three sub- hole to finish 1 under for
the next-to-last paring after Then the tournament that chip. “All I could ask for was par rounds, she opened this the day and 17 under in
settling for 66 on Saturday. had been full of low scores an opportunity.” year’s event with a course her first tournament follow-
After finishing, Park was and light on drama sud- Salas, hitting first, drove record-tying 62 on Thurs- ing a monthlong break to
whisked away to the India- denly switched. down the middle of the day. She then had rounds recover from physical and
napolis Motor Speedway’s Salas, who had missed only fairway within 90 yards of of 69 and 64 and 69 and mental exhaustion.
finish line, where she cele- three fairways all week, hit the hole. Park answered stayed atop the leader But it was Park who deliv-
brated by kissing the bricks drives into the rough on the with a drive about 30 yards board through every hole ered an eighth straight win
and taking the traditional last two holes of regulation. longer. Sunday — until Park’s final for non-Americans.
sip of milk — though she de- She dropped into a tie af- Both chipped onto the putt. “My goal was to win three
clined to take the milk bath ter making bogey at the green with makeable bird- “I stuck with my game times this year,” Park said.
as the event’s inaugural par-4, 17th and got a re- ie putts, but Salas’ curved plan and a couple of putts “I’m trying hard, so maybe I
winner, Lexi Thompson, did prieve when Park’s birdie just left of the hole. could have dropped,” she will win again.”q