Lewis Captures North Texas LPGA Crown
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IRVING, Texas — Nothing — not the gusty wind or even a hard-charging Michelle Wie — would deny Stacy Lewis her day of triumph at the North Texas LPGA Shootout at Las Colinas Country Club.
Lewis bewitched the field in closing with a final round 7-under-par 64 and 16-under total for a six-shot victory that earned her a $195,000 winner’s check and left a burdensome winless streak behind.
In finally putting all of the tools in her bag together in her home state, Lewis won for the first time this year after a number of near-misses and moved a step closer to becoming the world’s top-ranked player.
With her victory, Lewis moved up a spot to No. 2.
The Woodlands, Texas, native entered this week with six runner-up finishes since
capturing the Women’s British Open in August, including three in eight events this season. Lewis had seven top-10s this year.
“It’s awesome,” said Lewis, whose victory margin was the largest on tour since Jiyai Shin’s 9-stroke win at the Women’s British Open in 2012. “It’s relief more than anything. I’ve been so close the last few months, you know, maybe if I win one of those, I don’t get it done here.
“So I think it was all meant to be.”
Her closest rival was Meena Lee, who played her best tournament in years and closed at 10 under. Wie, seeking her second victory in three weeks, jumped 12 spots after a 4 under in the final round.
The day started with a crowded leader board of 12 players within three strokes, but Lewis made the turn at 31 after a decisive run of eagle-birdie-birdie to finish her front 9.
A day after being unable to finish a putt, finished her round in 24 putts, appreciably better than the 34 she needed in the third round. Lewis rolled in a 25-foot eagle from the fringe on No. 7, a 10-foot birdie on 8, followed by 12-footer at 9.
“I didn’t change anything or do anything different,” Lewis said. “There’s nothing wrong, they just didn’t go in yesterday. But the ball started going and once you see putts go in, it’s kind of contagious.”
Lewis appeared primed to put the tournament away as she approached the 510-yard, par-5 10th, but she parred the hole when her approach went wayward left.
Her only bogey of the day was at par-3 No. 11 after her tee shot went right.
Meanwhile, a streaking Wie surged to 11 under. Wie posed the most legitimate challenge to the eventual winner with birdies on six of seven holes during one stretch to get within two shots. Wie, though, faded with bogey on Nos. 17 and 18.
“I missed a birdie opportunity on 16 and I thought I had it on 17,” said Wie, whose iron off the tee box on the par-3 11 went long over the green. “It’s a little disappointing for me, but at the same time 4 under par on the last day, you know, I’ll take it.”
Lewis extended her lead with a birdie on 12, and she closed with birdies on 17 and 18.
Lewis’ tee shot dribbled in the water on 15, but, laying three out of the water, she stuck a pitching wedge 4 feet from the hole for par.
“Hitting par on 15 was huge,” Lewis said. “I saw Michelle had gotten close, but she only had three or four holes to play. So, I kind of got that 14 number I the back of my head. She would have to birdie her last three holes basically to tie me.
“If I could get at 14 and stay at 14 that’d be a good place to be.”
Lee, who hasn’t won since 2006 and entered the final round as co-leader with Lewis, shot a 1 under. She dropped a stroke immediately with a bogey at No. 1 and followed with three more, at 5, 11 and 16. The South Korea native recovered, though, with five birdies.
Julieta Granada, who was a stroke back entering play Sunday, shot a 4 over and finished 12 back of Lewis. Suzann Pettersen, the world’s fourth-ranked player, was also unable to gain any traction, shooting 1 over and finishing nine back of the winner.
Lewis, who gained an edge on the par 5s, playing those at 9 under for the tournament, including 4 under on Sunday, checked off the elusive victory of 2014 and now can turn her attention fully to the Inbee Park, the world’s top player for the past 55 weeks.
“This is a huge step, but I’m going to work just as hard as if I’d finished second this week,” Lewis said. “Things don’t change. It’s just nice to close the deal and to see my game getting better under pressure.
