Grace Park wins CJ Nine Bridges Classic
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-01 08:59

South Korea's Grace Park won the CJ Nine Bridges Classic on Sunday, shooting a 7-under-par 65 for a five-stroke victory and giving her game a big boost after a collapse in the final round two weeks ago.

"I can't describe my happiness with words," the South Korean star said.

Park finished at 16-under 200. Top-ranked Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch, both of Sweden, shot 67s and tied for second at 11 under. Sorenstam entered the day three strokes off the lead and closed her round with an eagle.

Hometown favorite Grace Park wearing a traditional Korean dress holds aloft her trophy after winning the CJ Nine Bridges Classic on Jeju Island, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004. South Korean Park fired a 7-under 65 in the final round to capture the title, five shots ahead of Sweden's Annika Sorenstam. [AP]

Defending champion Ahn Shi-hyun (69) was at 10 under, tied for fourth with Lorena Ochoa (67) and Jeong Jang (68).

Park's performance at The Club at Nine Bridges was far different from her play at the Samsung World Championship in California two weeks ago. Sorenstam overcame a three-stroke deficit with five holes left to beat Park by three shots.

Park got off to a slow start Sunday, bogeying the first hole before rallying and finishing with eight birdies, including one on the last hole.

South Korea's Grace Park kisses a trophy after she won the CJ Nine Bridges Classic, a U.S. LPGA tour event at the Nine Bridges Golf Club in north Cheju county on Cheju Island, about 500 km (310 miles) south of Seoul October 31, 2004. [Reuters]

"Even though I had several mistakes in my putting from the beginning, I didn't really have any dangers of a bogey because my shots were really good today," Park said, waving to the gallery.

Sorenstam had a bogey on the 17th hole before finding the green on her second shot of the par-5 18th and making an eagle putt.

Ahn started the day three strokes behind Park. She closed the gap with birdies on the 11th and 12th holes but finished with a bogey.

Park won $202,500 and was presented with a traditional South Korean dress when she accepted her prize.

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