SYLVANIA, Ohio - Natalie Gulbis looked like she finally
would break through, only to have her heart broken by Mi Hyun
Kim.
Kim rallied late to catch Gulbis and outlasted her on the third
playoff hole Sunday to win the $1.2 million Jamie Farr Classic.
A 23-year-old tour starlet, Gulbis appeared to be on the verge
of capturing her elusive first title. She had five consecutive
birdies at one point on the front nine and held a two-shot lead
with three holes left in regulation before being run down by
Kim.
"It (stinks). It's not good. It's very difficult," Gulbis
said.
Kim used birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to force the playoff,
somewhere Gulbis never had been in her 4 1/2-year career. The
29-year-old Korean had been 1-3 in playoffs.
"I understand that I'm Korean and American fans are cheering for
Natalie," Kim said. "I was happy that a few people said my
name or my nickname, or 'Go Mi Hyun Kim.'"
With plenty of drama, Kim and Gulbis each settled for pars on
the first two playoff holes. Back at par-5 18th, Gulbis looked
to be in better position for the win after hitting her third
shot inside of Kim's on the green.
However, Kim calmly sank her birdie putt from about 12 feet,
squarely putting the pressure on Gulbis. From just inside 10
feet, Gulbis' putt sailed just wide, giving Kim the victory.
"The playoff, I had three chances for birdies," Gulbis said. "I
hit some pretty decent putts. Some of them, for whatever
reason, it was a bad read and I hit a little bit too hard, and
that was about it."
"If she makes that putt ... then God gave it to her for a win,"
Kim said.
Kim and Gulbis both shot 6-under-par 65s in regulation to finish
at 18-under 266. It was the second win this year and seventh
career for Kim, who collected the $180,000 first prize.
"I won and I got a trophy," Kim said. "So I'm very happy."
Despite coming up short, Gulbis enjoyed the best finish of her
career. She had never finished higher than tied for third.
Paula Creamer, another tour starlet, also shot a 65 to finish
one shot back. The reigning LPGA Rookie of Year narrowly missed
making it a three-way playoff when she just missed a birdie
putt at No. 18.
Korean Se Ri Pak, who was looking to join Hall of Famers Annika
Sorenstam and Mickey Wright as the only players to win the same
event five times, finished alone in fourth at 16-under after
shooting a 66.
The best player in the world, Sorenstam (70) finished in eighth.