Play-off heartache for Gublis
Natalie Gulbis was denied her first title after she was defeated by a late rally from Mi Hyun Kim, who claimed the Jamie Farr Classic on the third play-off hole.
Gulbis, the 23-year-old tour starlet, held a two-shot lead with three regulation holes left before being run down by Kim.
Kim used birdies on numbers 16 and 17 to force the play-off, somewhere Gulbis had never been in her four-year career. The 29-year-old Korean had a record of one win and three losses in play-offs.
With plenty of drama, Kim and Gulbis each settled for pars on the first two play-off holes. Back at par-five 18th, Gulbis looked to be in better position for the win after hitting her third shot inside of Kim’s on the green.
However, Kim calmly sank her birdie putt from about 12 feet, squarely putting the pressure on Gulbis. From just inside 10 feet, Gulbis’ putt sailed just wide, giving Kim the victory.
Kim and Gulbis both shot six-under-par 65s in regulation to finish at 18-under 266.
Paula Creamer, another tour starlet, also shot a 65 to finish one shot back. The reigning LPGA Rookie of Year narrowly missed making it a three-way playoff when she just missed a birdie putt at the 18th.
Korean Se Ri Pak, who was looking to join Annika Sorenstam and Mickey Wright as the only players to win the same event five times, finished alone in fourth at 16-under after shooting a 66.
The best player in the world, Sorenstam (70), finished in eighth.
