Seon Hwa Lee wins Ginn Tribute

Karrie Webb three-putted on the first playoff hole from (I think) 15 ft. Seon Hwa two-putted from at least 40. More to come.

It is the third career victory for Lee in only her third LPGA season. Song-Hee Kim finished third, one shot back at -13 while Jane Park and Sophie Gustafson tied for fourth at -12.

What started as a six-shot blowout turned into a back nine free-for-all. Gustafson started out like it was still Thursday or Friday, with birdies at 1 and 3 to reach -20. The first blemish was a bogey at 4 but she did it again at both 8 and 9, then a double-bogey at 10 put Sophie at -15 and only one shot clear of Karrie and Na Yeon Choi. Foreshadowing a later event, Webb missed a short par putt at 12 to fall two back. Choi’s wheels came off at Holes 13-15 - +4 in that stretch knocked her out of the hunt. Playing in the group just ahead, Lee birdied 11 then 13 and Kim birdied 11, 13 and 14, putting both at -14 and tied for second. Park was -13 only another behind in third. At 14, Gustafson teed into the water left and took double-bogey to surrender the lead to Lee and Kim.

At 15, Song-Hee bogeyed to fall out of the tie after missing the fairway, the GIR and missing a very long par putt. Park missed a four-footer at 15 to fall to -12 and two behind. A bogey at 15 (her eighth dropped shot in 11 holes) dropped Sophie to -12. Lee came up short on her third and took bogey at 16 to create a three-way tie for the lead with Webb and Kim. Everybody parred 17, making 18 the place to decide it.

Song-Hee had the shorter putt at 18 but Seon Hwa canned hers from the right edge of the green to take sole possession of the lead. Kim couldn’t respond and that left Karrie as the only challenger remaining. Webb had 20 feet for birdie and she drained it to force the playoff.

They replayed 18 – both players were just off the fairway to the right with decent lies. Lee’s approach landed on the right front of the green, at least 40 feet away. Webb landed near green-center, maybe 15 feet from the hole. Seon Hwa lagged nicely and tapped in for her par. Karrie left hers short, then missed the par putt as much of the fairway gallery near me had already started walking back to 17 (where the second playoff hole would have been).

We’re going to eat dinner now. I’ll have an Epilogue post tomorrow evening after I get back home.