Lewis Wins ShopRite LPGA Classic & Rises to No. 1


After ascending to the top of the leaderboard following a bogey-free, 8-under 63 Saturday, Stacy Lewis closed out the ShopRite LPGA Classic in convincing fashion, posting a 67 Sunday to win the $1.5 million event on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, N.J.

The 29-year-old, who came into the week ranked No. 2 in the world behind Inbee Park, carded six birdies and two bogeys to finish the 54-hole tournament at 16-under 197, six strokes ahead of fellow American Christina Kim (72).

In addition to earning $225,000, Lewis supplanted Park as the top-ranked player in women's golf.

"It feels great," said Lewis, who in early May won the North Texas LPGA Shootout and now has 10 career victories. "I feel like I've played a lot of good, consistent golf over the last year and I felt like I deserve to be here. I didn't feel like I stumbled into (the No. 1 position."

Lewis, who also won the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2012, becomes the fourth player to win the event multiple times, joining Annika Sorenstam, Juli Inkster and Betsy King. "That's a pretty good list of people there," Lewis said when informed of the accomplishment. "That's not too bad. Wow, that's really cool."

Tied for third seven strokes behind Lewis were South Korea's Haeji Kang (69), Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (70) and Americans Gerina Piller (70) and Jennifer Johnson (72).

Park shot her second straight 70 to end up tied for eighth at 206 with, among others, defending champion Karrie Webb.

Park sounded relieved that she's no longer No. 1. "It's a little bit of relief not to have the big heavy crown on my head," said the South Korean. "It's not the end of the world." Third-ranked Lydia Ko, who made the 36-hole cut right on the number after shooting a second-round 75, closed with a 69 to finish at 1-under.

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