Lewis Wins LPGA Event in Alabama


Stacy Lewis racked up her second victory as a professional, closing with 3-under 69 to edge red-hot Lexi Thompson by a stroke in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. The $1.25 million, 72-hole tournament started Thursday at the Crossings Course in Mobile, Ala.

Lewis, a 27-year-old from Texas, began the final round with a two-stroke edge. After three birdies on the front nine, she had a bogey and a birdie on the inward half, with two clutch pars on the last two holes for her overall win. Her first win as a pro came in last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship; as an amateur in 2007, she won the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship.

She admitted to feeling some anxiety down the stretch. "I just needed to get to the clubhouse," Lewis said at greenside. "It feels really good to get it done. I'm super-excited. I fought. I'm exhausted. I'm glad I didn't have to play more holes."

Lewis, who finished at 17-under 271 to earn $187,500, was threatened by Thompson, who fired a scintillating 70-under 65 to put heat on the leader. The 17-year-old Thompson, who won last year's Navistar LPGA Classic by five strokes, carded three birdies on the front nine and four more on the back.

"I hit it really good and was just relaxed," Thompson told a TV reporter. "I'm more experienced than last year."

Thompson shared the lead going into the final round in last year's tournament but struggled to a 78. She noted later that outing gave her impetus Sunday. "l wouldn't take last year's Sunday round back for anything, because I learned so much out of that," she said. "I learned what not to do. It was a really big learning experience."

Thompson ended up at 272, while another shot back was France's Karine Icher (68). Sharing fourth at 276 were Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), South Koreans So Yeon Ryu (68) and Sun Young Yoo (70), Australia's Karrie Webb (69) and American Brittany Lincicome (72).

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx.