DONNA Andrews, leader since the second day, proved a confident front
runner, when she produced a closing round of 73 over the windswept
Randolph Park course to win the Ping/Welch's Championship in Tucson
yesterday.
It was a second LPGA title for Andrews, who collected a winner's
cheque for $63,750 when her 12-under-par total of 276 left her three
strokes clear of Judy Dickinson and Brandie Burton.
Andrews had started the day at 13-under-par on 203 after a closing
eagle in Saturday's round of 69. At the outset yesterday she led by
three strokes from Brandie Burton, winner of the title two years ago.
Conditions were demanding and Andrews, like most of the field, had
problems. She faltered with a run of three consecutive bogeys from the
fourth to turn in 37.
If this gave hope to her rivals, Andrews then produced a crucial
birdie at the long thirteenth which finally extinguished the hopes of
those behind.
Helen Alfredsson was the best of the four Europeans when a 69 left her
on 282 with Annika Sorenstam, another Swede, on 286. Suzanne Strudwick
handed in a 74 to finish at one under, but Trish Johnson, troubled by
hay fever, faded with a round of 80.
Alfredsson defends her title in the Dinah Shore next week and
yesterday she was at her impressive best as she gathered five birdies in
her round.
In a stunning late run, she found the green in two at the long
thirteenth, holed from 10 feet for another birdie at the sixteenth, then
at the par-5 eighteenth struck a No-5 iron second shot on to the green
for another birdie. Leading scores (US unless stated):
276 -- D Andrews 66, 68, 69, 73.
279 -- J Dickinson 71, 71, 69, 68; B Burton 69, 68, 69, 73.
280 -- M McGann 72, 70, 69, 69; S Steinhauer 66, 70, 72, 72.
281 -- J Stephenson (Australia) 67, 72, 71, 71; L Merten 73, 70, 67,
71.
282 -- H Alfredsson (Sweden) 74, 71, 68, 69; D Eggeling 71, 72, 67,
72.
Other scores included: 286 -- A Sorenstam (Sweden) 68, 75, 69, 74. 287
-- S Strudwick (Britain) 74, 69, 70, 74. 294 -- T Johnson (Britain) 72,
70, 72, 80.
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