The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Choi wins LPGA season finale
- Double duty in Barcelona
- Fired-up Khe Wei’s eager to get it right with Vivian
| Posted: 18 Nov 2012 05:35 PM PST NAPLES, Florida: Na Yeon Choi capped her outstanding 2012 LPGA campaign with a two-stroke victory over fellow South Korean So Yeon Ryu Sunday in the $1.5 million season-ending Titleholders. Choi countered a double-bogey at the third with an eagle at the par-five fifth. She added three more birdies - the last of them at the par-four 16th, for a two-under par 70 and a 72-hole total of 14-under 274. Her second victory of the year, after a triumph in the US Women's Open, was worth $500,000 and took her total prize money for the campaign to $1.9 million. "I'm really happy with how I played this season," said the 25-year-old Choi. "I won my first major and even this tournament is very big for me." Ryu, who had already locked up Rookie of the Year honors, fell out of a tie for the lead with a three-putt bogey on the par-five 14th. She settled for a 70 for 276. "My putting wasn't really great," Ryu said. "Na Yeon is a great player, and I'm just a rookie, just starting this season. It was quite tough. Na Yeon was great." American Brittany Lincicome also signed for a 70 at TwinEagles for sole possession of third place on 277. Australian Karrie Webb posted a 69 for 278, with Ai Miyazato of Japan rounding out the top five after a 74 for 279. South Korean Inbee Park finished with a share of 11th place to secure the LPGA money title and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Stacy Lewis, the first US player to claim Player of the Year honors since Beth Daniel in 1994, finished equal 29th. Overnight leader Choi ran into trouble at the third, where her approach was left of the green. Her attempt to chip on failed and she two-putted for a double-bogey. Oddly, falling into a tie for the lead may have helped. "I was very nervous last night," Choi said. "I told people that leading the tournament, there's always extra pressure. Even on front nine, when I had the double bogey and tie for first place, I felt more comfortable than leading. Maybe that sounds a little weird. I like chasing somebody, and then I can play more aggressive." She regained the lead shortly thereafter, after her three-wood from 240 yards out at the fifth bounced onto the green and she made the putt for eagle. After going birdie-bogey at seven and eight, birdies at 12 and 16 were all she needed to stay in front. - AFP |
| Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:54 PM PST PETALING JAYA: Malaysian long distance swimmers Kevin Yeap and Khoo Cai Lin are set for double duty at the World Championships in Barcelona next July after winning a second quota spot for their respective pet events at the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai. Kevin finished fifth in the men's 1,500m freestyle final in 15:40.87 on Saturday to dip under the world championship qualifying mark of 15:46.38. It was a satisfactory end to his campaign as he only finished behind two Japanese and two Chinese swimmers in a top class list spearheaded by double Olympic champion Sun Yang. Sun Yang, who trains in Australia, splashed to his third gold and a third championship record with a time of 14:44.10 in the longest race of the programme. But it was well below his world record of 14:31.02, which he set at the London Olympics this year. Kevin, the gold medallist at the Indonesia SEA Games last year, beat the qualifying time for the 400m freestyle in finishing fourth on Friday. Cai Lin did not post a fast time in the women's 400m freestyle final but her 4:17.88 gave her fifth placing and beat the world meet qualifying time of 4:18.55. It was enough for her to book a second quota spot after achieving her first in the 800m freestyle at the London Olympics. Xu Danlu led a Chinese sweep of the gold and silver with a new championship record of 4:05.75 ahead of compatriot Shao Yiwen (4:10.98). Thailand's Natthanan Junkrajang touched home ahead of Japan's Tsuzumi Hasegawa to grab the bronze in 4:14.59. The Dubai meet is a designated continental qualifying event for the World Championships and breaststroker Yap See Tuan was the only one of the three Malaysians to miss the mark. See Tuan managed to reach the men's 200m breaststroke final but finished seventh in 2:18.21. He had been eighth in the 100m breaststroke in 1:04.48. The Asian meet is held every four years and the synchro swimming competition ends today. Malaysia's Lee sisters, Zyanne and Zylane, are currently placed fifth after the free duet discipline (73.690). Olympic bronze medallists China lead with 94.040 points and second placed Japan (91.510) will find it hard to unseat their arch rivals unless they produce an exceptional performance in the technical discipline. |
| Fired-up Khe Wei’s eager to get it right with Vivian Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:56 PM PST PETALING JAYA: National women's doubles shuttler Woon Khe Wei has gone through a run of poor results since picking up an ankle injury in the Malaysian Open early this year. But having finally tasted success in the Malaysian International Challenge in Kuching yesterday, the 23-year-old Khe Wei is now eager for more. Khe Wei partnered Ong Jian Guo to win the mixed doubles title, beating Indonesia's Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Annisa Saufika 21-11, 21-14. "My main focus is still women's doubles, but to finally win a title after so long feels great," said Khe Wei, who partners Vivian Hoo in the women's doubles. "What makes the win awesome is that I've only played with Jian Guo in two other tournaments. So this is quite special. "This win has also fired me up to do well in the women's doubles with Vivian. "I lost quite a bit of speed because of the injury and Vivian has been covering for me most of the time. "It eventually affected her own game and I feel bad about it. But I'm feeling fresh again and am ready to make amends by getting some good results with her." The budding women's pair of Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean announced their arrival on the senior stage by winning their first title yesterday. The duo, both 18, were in smashing form, beating Indonesia's Ririn Amelia-Melvira Oklamona 21-13, 23-21. The men's pair of Goh V Shem-Teo Kok Siang also got their act right by downing team-mates Low Juan Shen-Tan Yip Jiun 21-15, 21-12 in the final. Lydia Cheah then made it four titles for Malaysia with a 21-17, 21-12 win over Singapore's Liang Xiaoyu in the women's singles. Veteran Mohd Hafiz Hashim, however, failed to make it a clean sweep, throwing away a one game lead to lose 21-3, 19-21, 18-21 to Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo of Indonesia in the men's singles. |
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