The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Beljan caps wild week with first PGA win
- Kerr wins as Lewis locks up LPGA Player of Year
- The Nicol factor in Malaysia’s bid to win world team title
| Beljan caps wild week with first PGA win Posted: 11 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida: Charlie Beljan capped a wild week with an emotional first US PGA Tour victory Sunday, posting a two-stroke triumph just two days after he was hospitalized with a panic attack. Beljan carded a three-under par 69 final round, countering a double-bogey and three bogeys with eight birdies for a 16-under total of 272. Matt Every and Robert Garrigus both shot four-under 68 in the final round to share second place on 14-under 274, and Brian Gay was a stroke further back after a 70 for 275. Beljan, who came into the final tournament of the season at 139th on the money list, needed a good week to move into the top 125 and secure full playing privileges for next season. With the victory, he's guaranteed his tour card for the next two seasons and a berth in the PGA Championship, but for a time it looked as if he wouldn't even be able to finish the tournament. "I'm speechless. My family flew in last night, I've got everybody back home rooting for me. I didn't even think I'd get to finish my round on Friday. "Yesterday I showed up just hoping to be able to finish 18 holes and now here I am ... the champion. "This is the greatest feeling ever," Beljan said. Beljan, who held his seven-week-old son as he walked off the 18th green, was in hospital on Friday night, after a panic attack had him battling shortness of breath, an elevated heart rate and light-headedness during the second round. He even told his caddie he thought his life was in jeopardy, but he opted to return to the course on Saturday and had emerged from the third round with a two-shot lead. Even so, Beljan said he wasn't feeling so great on Sunday morning. "I did not feel well this morning. I woke up, not the same symptoms, but my stomach was hurting, my head was pounding and I was like here we go again," he said. "You know, that may have took the other nerves off." Beljan missed the green at the first hole, leading to a quick bogey. He rebounded with birdies at two and four, but a bogey at the fifth dropped him into a tie for the lead. Beljan got hot at the seventh, however, draining a birdie putt from off the green. At the par-five eighth he landed his third shot within two feet and made that for birdie, and at nine he drained a 30-footer. He made his fourth birdie in as many holes at the 10th, then drained another long birdie putt at 12. His momentum slowed with a double-bogey from a greenside bunker at 13. "I still had a three-shot lead, so I knew I just had to keep plugging away," Beljan said. Tim Herron closed with a 69 to finish tied for ninth, just squeaking into the top 125. But there was disappointment for some who started the week on the edge. Australian Rod Pampling and American Billy Mayfair, who both missed the cut, fell to 127 and 128, respectively. Their status in the top 150 will give them partial status for next year, allowing them into some events but not all. - AFP |
| Kerr wins as Lewis locks up LPGA Player of Year Posted: 11 Nov 2012 06:51 PM PST GUADALAJARA, Mexico: Cristie Kerr rallied to win the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday as Stacy Lewis locked up LPGA Player of the Year honors with a tie for fourth place. Kerr had six birdies and three bogeys and parred the last three holes at Guadalajara Country Club to hold off fellow American Angela Stanford and overnight leader Inbee Park and win by one stroke. Kerr's 69 gave her a four-round total of 16-under 272. Stanford carded a 68 and South Korea's Park a 72 for 273. Kerr claimed her 15th LPGA title and her first since she won the LPGA Championship in June 2010. "It feels amazing," said Kerr, who admitted to late-round nerves. "You know, coming in those last couple of holes it didn't feel like I had won before. I kind of just squeaked in. I won by a shot, that's all that it takes, I've lost plenty of tournaments by a shot, but winning by a shot feels a lot better." Lewis, the world number two who was coming off her tour-leading fourth victory of the year in Japan last week, closed with a 68 for 276, tied with Taiwan's Candie Kung, who also carded a 68. The finish makes Lewis the first US golfer to win the points-based Player of the Year award since Beth Daniel in 1994. "After I finally made my last putt there on 18, I think it finally hit me," Lewis said. "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. I mean it's an honor to win the award, and I think this will spur on with the rest of the Americans to get out and keep playing well because Solheim Cup is coming up." South Korea's Park came into the week 58 points behind Lewis in the race for the award, but would have needed to win here, and at next week's season-ending Titleholders tournament, to have a chance of capturing the honor. Park, who has won twice this season, admitted she was looking forward to playing next week without the pressure of the Player of the Year race. "I'll just try to enjoy myself next week because I tried to put too much pressure on myself this week so next week will be better," she said. - AFP |
| The Nicol factor in Malaysia’s bid to win world team title Posted: 11 Nov 2012 03:10 PM PST PETALING JAYA: England and Egypt are the clear favourites in the Women's World Team squash championships starting today in Nimes, France, but national elite coach Peter Genever believes that Malaysia can upset the form book. Malaysia, powered by world No. 1 Nicol David, No. 7 Low Wee Wern, Delia Arnold and Siti Munirah Jusoh, have never won the title. They finished third in the last three editions. However, Genever, said the Malaysian girls have harnessed the right momentum for the tournament. The clear advantage would be Nicol, who signalled her return to her best by winning the US Open last month. The 22-year-old Wee Wern has also made great strides this year, winning her maiden WSA Gold event – the China Open, and climbing to a career best seventh in the world. "This is our best chance to win the championship but it will be incredibly tough as there are four good teams in the fray," said Genever. "We have a very good chance to win if we can make the final. We did not do well in the Asian team meet but I am sure the players have gained from the experience and should be motivated this time around. Having Nicol also gives us an edge." Malaysia were without Nicol at the Asian team meet and lost 2-1 to Hong Kong in the semi-finals. "England and Egypt are deservedly ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively," said Genever. "But a couple of the other teams are not at their best and the momentum is definitely with us. Our girls are capable of beating anyone, including the English and the Egyptians. "Furthermore, Wee Wern has been playing really well while Delia is a good team player," added Genever. Malaysia, the third seeds, open their campaign in Group C against China today before facing South Africa. They take on Spain tomorrow in the last match. Only the group winners advance to the next round. England, led by world No. 3 Laura Massaro, play South Korea while Egypt take on Mexico today. |
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