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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:59 p.m., Saturday, February 16, 2008

Sorenstam wins at Turtle Bay for 70th LPGA victory

By JAYMES SONG
Associated Press Sports Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Annika Sorenstam opened the LPGA season with a two-stroke victory in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.

RONEN ZILBERMAN | Associated Press

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KAHUKU — Annika Sorenstam won the season-opening SBS Open for her 70th LPGA Tour title and first since September 2006, birdieing two of the last three holes today for a 3-under 69 and two-stroke victory.

The 37-year-old Swedish star, coming off an injury-shortened season where she failed to win last year for the first time since her rookie season in 1994, finished with a 10-under 206 total. It also was her second straight win in Hawai'i.

Rookie Russy Gulyanamitta (68), Laura Diaz (70) and Jane Park (70) tied for second. Angela Park (69), the 2007 rookie of the year who was assessed a two-stroke penalty, and Japanese rookie Momoko Ueda (71) tied for fifth, three strokes back.

Sorenstam dropped to a knee and shook her fist as she calmly sank a 15-foot downhill putt on the par-4 17th that ended any suspense. She then waved both arms in the air and hugged her caddie after putting for par on the 18th hole.

"It's been a while," her caddie said as they hugged.

She has won 47 times when holding the lead going into the final round.

Sorenstam was limited to 13 events last year because of neck and back injuries and had six top-10s finishes, but didn't add to her trophy collection.

In the first event of 2008, the world's former No. 1 looked like her old self — relaxed, focused and dominant.

Sorenstam smiled as she walked the fairway on the par-4 16th after hitting a wedge to 4 feet, which she dropped for the outright lead that she wouldn't lose.

She first went up by two strokes on the par-4 10th by sinking a 14-foot birdie putt, but quickly lost a stroke when her long birdie putt whizzed 8 feet passed the cup on the next hole. She three-putted for her only bogey of the day.

Ueda and Jane Park each birdied to tie Sorenstam for the lead at 8 under. Jane Park made a long putt on No. 15. Seconds later, Ueda rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 14, drawing a roar from the sizable Japanese gallery.

However, no one could keep pace with Sorenstam.

Gulyanamitta, who has earned just $4,411 in her previous 17 events, jumped around the 18th green after sinking a long birdie putt. She finished sixth at Q-school to earn exempt status on tour.

Like Sorenstam, Diaz was also hungry for a win. She hasn't hoisted a trophy since 2002. Diaz shared the lead with Sorenstam until a double bogey on No. 7 dropped her into a crowd.

Angela Park (69) was assessed a two-stroke penalty for slow play on the par-4 10th that gave her a triple bogey and cost her a shot at the lead. Park then birdied three of the next four holes to get back within a stroke of the lead before Sorenstam's late birdies.

Rules officials said Park's second, third and fourth shots on the hole all exceeded the time limit. Park disagreed with the ruling and was visibly upset.

Conditions were unusually calm on O'ahu's North Shore. Even the normally roaring Pacific Ocean was peaceful. It was also balmy, forcing the players to find shade anywhere they could.

Ueda used an umbrella. Sorenstam hid under the ironwood trees.

Sorenstam and Erica Blasberg (74) were co-leaders heading into the final round at 7 under. Blasberg, who was playing in the final group for the first time in her career, wasn't able to keep pace with her partners.

Her troubles started when she pulled her drive near the water hazard and had to pitch out on No. 7 for bogey. Blasberg tied for eighth with Cristie Kerr (73), In-Kyung Kim (71) and Yani Tseng (69) at 5-under 211.

Defending champion Paula Creamer closed with a 69 and finish at 4 under. She hit 18 greens in regulation but putted 34 times.

"I was grinding it out there," she said. "I saw the leaderboard and I think I got a little anxious."