Park Charges to Victory at North Texas Shootout


Inbee Park fired a 6-under 65 to win the North Texas Shootout. The $1.3 million LPGA Tour event took place at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.

Park enjoyed a spectacular last round, carding six birdies and no bogeys to finish at 15-under 269, three strokes behind fellow South Korean Hee Young Park and American Cristie Kerr, who each posted 66s at the par-71 layout.

Park was tied for the lead with Lexi Thompson at 204 entering Sunday, but she just played a spotless final round. The victory for Park was her second of the year and the 14th of her career, five of which are majors for the 26-year-old native of Seoul.

Park later told reporters she feels an affinity for the course and the venue. "I love this golf course," she said. "Some people say they have a couple of they say it's tough to play on. But I really like it. It seems like it really suits my eye. And yeah, I've been playing really good the last three years here, and I love to come here and play. The crowds here, the atmosphere is great, so I love to come here to Texas."

Kerr, a 37-year-old with 17 LPGA titles, said Park was hard to catch. "She just played a little bit more consistently than me this week, I think, and I had an even par round, which didn't help my cause, but I can't complain. I played really well all week. I was great mentally today and that was my goal, and I thought I had to shoot at least 5- or 6 under to have a chance, and I did that."

Sweden's Maria McBride matched Park's low final round to rise into a tie for fourth at 273 with Thompson, who shot a 69. McBride, the former Maria Hjorth, said her game is gradually coming back to where it was; she won five times between 1999 and 2011.

"I mean I've had pretty big problems with my tee shots, and tee shots I'm really, really starting to trust my tee shots, and that makes a huge difference because obviously you're hitting shorter irons into the greens and you're hitting it from the fairway, which I've struggled to do," the 41-year-old said. "So just overall very solid and, yeah, everything really."

After posting a 73 Saturday to drop down the leaderboard, 54-year-old Juli Inkster rebounded with a 67 to take a share of seventh at 275 with defending champion, Stacy Lewis, who also shot 4-under Sunday.

Despite her age, Inkster - a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee in 2000 - still has the competitive spirit. "I mean I want someone that can compete out there and I want someone that's not afraid to go head to head with the best player out there. And you know, whether they win or lose, you know, I want someone to play with an aggressive style."

Ending up alone in 10th at 276 was South Korean Ilhee Lee, who shot a 66.

After opening with a 75, No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko could never get into contention, tacking on rounds of 68, 70 and 71 to end up at even-par 284. "I wish a couple more putts could have dropped. That was really the key things that really weren't going this week," said the 18-year-old New Zealander, who before the tournament pledged to donate all of her winnings this week to Nepal earthquake victims.

"But no, like I said after the first day, I didn't know if I was even going to be able to make the cut or even make a donation from this event. But luckily I was able to play all four days, but yeah, you know, the last three days was a lot of grinding, but I'm happy that I can contribute."

After finishing third behind winner Ko and Morgan Pressel in last week's Swinging Skirts Classic in San Francisco, 17-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson closed with a 73 to drop into a tie for 13th at 6-under 278.

"Every time I'm out here I'm learning lots, and being with those great players," said the Ontario native, who had to Monday qualify just to get into the North Texas Shootout. "I played with Cristie today and Juli Inkster yesterday and just all these great names. And it's a lot of fun. And Inbee Park, too. I'm watching them, learning and I'm learning a lot about myself, too, which is always important."

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