Lewis Cruises in North Texas LPGA Shootout


Stacy Lewis fired a 7-under 64 on Sunday to roll to victory in the North Texas LPGA Shootout. The $1.3 million event took place at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.

The 29-year-old Lewis began the final round tied for the lead with Meena Lee. But Lewis quickly separated herself from the 32-year-old South Korean, who was seeking her first LPGA title since the 2006 Fields Open in Hawaii.

Lewis reeled off three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole to make the turn in 5-under 31. After a par and a bogey on the par-3 11th, she tacked on three more birdies the rest of the way for a 33 on the home half to finish 72 holes at 16-under 268.

Paired in the final group with Lewis, Lee couldn't keep pace with her playing partner, closing with a 1-under 70 and a four-round total of 10-under 274.

The victory, her ninth overall, was the first for Lewis since last August's Women's British Open. She's had several close calls since then, including a runner-up finish to Lydia Ko in last week's Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, third place in April's Kraft Nabisco Championship and a T-2 in the Founders Cup in March.

So Sunday's win was rewarding for the former All-American at Arkansas, especially since she did it in front of family and friends.

"It's awesome," Lewis said after accepting the trophy." 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. Just to be here with my family."

Lewis noted the keys to her round were good putting and the eagle on No. 7. "It was going to be hard to get the ball close, so I knew I needed to make some putts, and really, the eagle putt on seven kind of got the ball rolling, and I just - I made par on the hard holes and made birdie when I could, and it was just an awesome day."

Michelle Wie had another fine tournament. In addition to the victory last month in the LPGA Lotte Championship in her home state of Hawaii, the 24-year-old finished second in the Kraft Nabisco to winner Lexi Thompson and was fourth in February's Honda LPGA Thailand.

On Sunday, Wie fired a 67 - despite bogeys on the final two holes - to take solo third at 9-under 275. "Just hit a wall on the last hole," she told reporters. "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."

Tied for fourth eight strokes behind Lewis were American Kim Kaufman (70) and South Korea's Na Yeon Choi (69).

Sharing sixth at 7-under were The Netherland's Dewi Claire Schreefel (68), Norway's Suzann Pettersen (72) and Americans Thompson (69), Cristie Kerr (71), Christina Kim (71) and Dori Carter (72).

Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Inbee Park couldn't muster much magic on Sunday. The South Korean closed with a 1-over 72 to tie for 14th at 5-under with four others.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.