Cristie Kerr and Hunter Mahan win Notah Begay NB3 Challenge
Retired golf queens Cristie Kerr and Hunter Mahan teamed up once again against Annika Sorenstam and Rickie Fowler to win the Notah Begay NB3 Challenge by a two-shot victory at the Atunyote Golf Club on Tuesday.
Sorenstam delivered three birdies and her playing partner Rickie Fowler added an eagle in the first eight holes of the front nine - all in the first eight holes.To give a befitting reply, Cristie Kerr and Hunter Mahan charged on the course with six birdies on the back nine for a net total of 10-under 62.
Kerr and Mahan chased Sorenstam and Fowler by two shots at the pivot before surprising them at the last holes to win $100,000 in the best-ball competition at Atunyote Golf Club. They were followed by Sorenstam and Fowler as the runners-up with a score of 64 and Vijay Singh and Suzann Pettersen at third place with a net total of 66.
The purpose of the entire event was to collect funds for Begay foundation, which runs for a cause of helping the obese and diabetic community in Native America. At the end of the day, a cheque worth $1.25 million was presented to the foundation. President of the foundation, Notah Ryan Begay III thanked the golf fraternity for its efforts and said that it was an honor that golfers from around the world came to help in a cause which could change the lives of many people.
Regarding the game, the layout of the match was divided into six mixed teams, with the men hitting from the longer tee boxes. The 39-year-old Sorenstam, who apparently has taken retirement from professional golf in 2008, apologized to Rickie Fowler before teeing off for not making it to practice. Sorenstam did not have time as she was busy with her daughter’s birthday. Despite her fears, Sorenstam performed brilliantly despite being absent from the professional game for a long time.
To make it better, spectators standing near the roughs cheered Sorenstam on with chants of "great to see you back," which not only boosted her morale but also made her teary eyed. Annika Sorenstam’s first birdie was at the 198 yard par three at the third hole but she was easily caught by Ochoa who birdied the same hole from a 10 feet distance. On the sixth one, Sorenstam and Ochoa both took a shot with a driver into the right rough and rolled another birdie.
This continued till the eight hole when Sorenstam’s second shot got cut in half and landed in the mid way of the green but to her advantage, her playing Partner Rickie Fowler smashed a 40-foot uphill ace to post a score of 6 under. After this eagle, this team was two-shots ahead of Mahan and Kerr as well from Begay and Ochoa.
According to Annika, it was her best performance of the year and she gave the credit to her fans, who according to her, kept her alive in the game. She delivered four birdies and missed only one shot which no doubt was a spectacular result keeping in view the long break. On the other side, Notah Begay and Ochoa posted a bogey followed by a double-bogey in the first three holes of the back nine. However, Kerr and her partner made three birdies on the front nine and five on the back nine and jumped towards the victory zone with ease.
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