NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Suzann Pettersen came back to win the LPGA Safeway Classic on Sunday, overcoming a nine-stroke deficit with a 7-under-par 64 and beating Na Yeon Choi with a par on the first hole of a playoff at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
In the playoff, Choi’s second shot on the 18th went into the water and she missed a putt for bogey before Pettersen sank her winning putt.
Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) couldn’t keep pace with the leaders after entering Sunday in second place at 7-under.
But Lewis, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, bogeyed Sunday’s first two holes and also bogeyed Nos. 9, 12, 13 and 18 on her way to a 4-over 75. She finished in a tie for eighth place with a 1-under 212. She earned $34,920.
Pettersen, coming off a victory Aug. 7 in the European Tour’s Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle, won her eighth LPGA Tour title. The Norwegian star jumped to No. 2 in the world rankings behind Yani Tseng.
Choi, who birdied the par-14 17th to take briefly take a onestroke lead, finished with a 73 to match Pettersen at 6 under on the Ghost Creek Course.
Christina Kim shot a 78 to finish a dismal 11 over, but it was just enough to keep her in the 10th spot in the points standings for the U.S. Solheim Cup team that will take on their European counterparts in late in September at Killeen Castle.
Pettersen has already earned a spot on the European Solheim Cup team. She eagled the par-5 10th hole Sunday to help propel her into the lead.
Hee Young Park, still looking for her first tour victory, shot a 67 to finish third at 5 under.
Paula Creamer had a 68 to finish another stroke back. The fan favorite had one of the largest galleries of the day.
Choi tied for second last year, two strokes behind Ai Miyazato.
Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) shot a 3-over 74 Sunday and finished with an 8-over 221 and in a tie for 61st place. She earned $3,418.
Sports, Pages 13 on 08/22/2011