Korean rookie reigns; Jenny pockets P1 million

NORTH PLAINS, Oregon – South Korean rookie M.J. Hur hit a 6-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday to beat Suzann Pettersen and win the Safeway Classic for her first LPGA Tour victory.

Hur pumped her fist and started laughing after sinking the putt on the par-4 No. 17 hole at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club north of Portland. She was then chased around the green by a friend trying to douse her with champagne.

Jennifer Rosales failed to turn in a top 10 finish as she settled for an even par 72 and wound up in joint 17th with a six-under 210.

Rosales had looked forward to a solid finish after grabbing a share of ninth after two rounds of the 54-hole tournament, four strokes off the pace. But after opening the final round with a birdie on No. 3, things didn’t go out right for the Filipina shotmaker, who bogeyed the par-5 No. 4. birdied the ninth, but dropped a stroke on No. 11, hit another birdie on the par-3 16th but holed out with another bogey for a 36-36 round.

Still, it proved to be her best performance in 12 tournaments in a season marred by six missed-cut stints. She won $21,537 or P1.033 million.

Hur shot a final-round 65, while Norway’s Pettersen and American veteran Michele Redman each finished with a 67 to finish at 13-under 203 and set up the playoff.

Redman, whose last tour victory came in 2000, was knocked out when she missed a short putt for par on the first playoff hole, the par-4 No. 18. (AP)