FORT MYERS, Fla., April 19, 2015 – Laurie Rinker of Florida closed out a wire-to-wire victory to win the LPGA Legends Tour competition at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial.
Rinker added an even-par, final-round score of 72 today in 15-mph winds to win by three shots at 5-under 139 at Cypress Lake Country Club. Her four-shot cushion from her opening round of 5-under 67 gave the LPGA veteran player some wiggle room during the gusty round, in which she carded four birdies and four bogeys to secure her fourth Legends Tour title.
She edged out Atlanta’s Rosie Jones (69) and Ohio native Barb Mucha (71), who tied for second at 2-under 142.
“It was very special to win an event held in Patty Berg’s memory,” said Rinker, a two-time LPGA winner. “I watched her put on a few golf clinics in the past, and when I walked into the clubhouse here at her home course, I saw all of her trophies. Her career was amazing and I am honored to win this event named for her at her club.”
When the wind picked up in today’s final round, Rinker said she knew it would be difficult for others to post low sub-par rounds to chase. The key, however, was for her not to give shots back to the field.
“I hit the ball pretty well, but I had a couple of three-putts today, which I didn’t have on Saturday,” she added. “When I bogeyed, I would get it right back with a birdie.”
Jones did make a run at the lead, carding a birdie on No. 17 to get to three under, but dropped back to two under with a bogey on the final hole.
Wendy Doolan (72) of Australia finished fourth at one-under 143, while Nancy Scranton (71) finished fifth at even-par 144.
The tournament was the first combined tour event with the Epson Tour. LPGA Legends and Epson Tour players competed alongside each other in separate competitive rounds for separate purses. Epson Tour players opened competition on Thursday and Friday, with players who made the cut grouped into pairings of two Epson Tour players and one Legends Tour player in Saturday and Sunday’s rounds.
Canadian Augusta James (67) won the Epson Tour competition at 10-under 278 for 72 holes over Michigan’s Laura Kueny (72) and Californian Brianna Do (72), tied for second at 6-under 282.
For complete scores, visit http://leaderboard.thelegendstour.com/?TID=60
For more information, visit www.thelegendstour.com.)
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