Lewis, 27, locks up top honor

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --06/30/12-- Stacy Lewis hits from the 13th tee during the second round of the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers on Saturday, June 30, 2012.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --06/30/12-- Stacy Lewis hits from the 13th tee during the second round of the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

— Former Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis finished in a tie for fourth in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday and wrapped up the player of the year award.

“It was a lot of pressure you know?” said Lewis, 27,who shot a 68 Sunday and finished at 12-under-par 276, earning $51,901. “That’s what everyone has been talking about, and I’m just glad that I took care of it this week. I didn’t play my best, but I got it done when I needed to.”

Cristie Kerr, at 16-under par 272, earned her 15th LPGA Tour victory, her first since the LPGA Championship in June 2010.

Kerr held off Angela Stanford and third-round leader Inbee Park by a stroke at Guadalajara Country Club.

Park needed to win the event and the season-ending Titleholders to have a chance to pass Lewis in the player of the year standings.

Lewis, No. 2 in the Rolex World Rankings, is the first American player of the year since Beth Daniel in 1994.

“After I finally made my last putt there on 18, I think it finally hit me,” said Lewis, who leads the tour with four victories. “It’s just crazy to think that there have been so many great American players and I am the one after Beth in ‘94. It’s just crazy to even think of.”

Sports, Pages 15 on 11/12/2012

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