Hur hangs on for maiden win

Published on 31/08/2009 22:43

ROOKIE MJ Hur holed a birdie putt at the second play-off hole to claim her maiden LPGA Tour victory in the Safeway Classic.

The South Korean shot a seven-under-par 63 at North Plains, the lowest round of the day, to join Suzann Pettersen and Michele Redman, who had both gone round in 65s, on 13 under. Redman was eliminated at the first extra hole when she missed a two-foot putt, with Pettersen sending a 12-foot effort for victory trickling by on the left. Neither Hur nor Pettersen found the fairway at the 17th, with the Norwegian nearly holing her chip, but seeing it roll 18 feet past the hole.

In contrast, Hur's chip came to rest within five feet and she made no mistake after Pettersen, who had at one point had a three-shot lead before a double- bogey on the 15th, missed with her effort.

Michelle Wie was one of three players tied for fourth at 11 under, the high-profile American managing her sixth top-ten finish of the year with a final-round 66.

Ai Miyazato and Seon Hwa Lee both shot 70s, while overnight leader Anna Nordqvist could only manage a par 72 and dropped to seventh.

Britain's Karen Stupples finished with a 74 to sit on one under in joint 49th, the same mark as world No1 Lorena Ochoa after a 73.