Beatriz Recari wins CVS LPGA Challenge
Beatriz Recari won her first LPGA career title as she finished her final round at Blackhawk Country Club on Sunday. Recari carded a 2-under 70 to win one shot ahead of French Gwladys Nocera, who was in close competition to the top as well. Despite the wet
California conditions, the rookie finished her 72 holes at 14-under par 284.
After hitting a bogey on the seventeenth hole, Recari regained form after posting a par that was sufficient for victory. The winner said that she is thrilled and extremely pleased by the way she took control of the situation out there.
Beatriz, who took the $165,000 first prize win home, didn’t let nerves get to her. This victory finally ended the 14 month winless streak that Recari was going through. Her last triumph was in 2009 at the Ladies European Tour at the Finnair Masters in August.
Last year, Beatriz didn’t avail the five stroke lead but got lucky as she was victorious in a playoff.
On Sunday, as Recari made a two-foot putt at the wet course, she hugged her caddie as she realized that she had just won. She was the first Spaniard to have won in the LPGA after Marta Figueras-Dotti in 1994.
Before her win yesterday, her best finish was at the Sybase Match Play Championship when she reached the round of 16. “I'm kind of like realizing that I won”, Recari said. “I still cannot believe it. I think it'll take me kind of a couple days to assimilate
that. I'm flying tonight to Malaysia, so I'll probably have a couple hours to actually think what happened this week. No, I'm thrilled. I did a very good job. I had three weeks off. I worked very hard, and that paid off”.
As for other players, the runner up Gwladys Nocera birdied her final hole to end at 70 for 275. Michelle Redman, who had entered the final round as a leader as well, posted a 72 and tied on third with Karine Icher.
Michelle was really impressed by the winner’s performance as she said that Recari played smart, had some good breaks and hit amazing putts. The 45 year old player hasn’t held a title since 2000 and was really hoping this would be her big break as she was
at the top of the leader board along with South Korean player Ilhee Lee earlier Sunday.
However, unfortunately, she couldn’t make use of the opportunity as she fell behind when Beatriz posted a birdie on the sixth hole. She had a comeback with a birdie at a nine but a bogey on the tenth kept her away from victory.
Lee, almost quit the US circuit, since she missed seven consecutive cuts. Entering the final round at the top of the leader board, she bogeyed three of the first four holes and definitely ruined her top position. She finished with a 78 and hence was tied
at fifteenth place.
The American player Cristie Kerr wasn’t successful in replacing Japan’s Ali Miyazato and finished the game with a 70 to tie with Wendy Ward at 72. To become number one, Kerr had to at least come in third place in the CVS Challenge. Kerr said that she thought
she could have another low round and would have managed third place. However, the weather was really making it hard and she didn’t hit the way she should have. The weather did become an obstacle on Sunday and the players surely wanted it to be just as hot
and sunny as it was on Thursday.
Now after California, the Tour will be moving to a different continent. With the Sime Darby starting in Malaysia, LPGA will make stops in Korea and Japan as well. It will return to Mexico for a tournament and then the season Finale will be held in Florida.
With the winner of the CVS Challenge off to Malaysia, the ladies are now eager for the Sime Darby that will tee off on October 22nd in Kuala Lumpur.
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