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Youth Rules Women's Open

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By MICK ELLIOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

Updated: 06/30/2008 12:51 am

EDINA, Minn. - Rather than the results that American women's golf wanted - in truth, desperately needed - it was a major-championship finish Sunday that has come to be expected.

The foreign invasion.

Inbee Park, a 19-year-old South Korean, made herself the youngest U.S. Women's Open champion in history by shooting a final-round 71 at Interlachen Country Club and becoming the 26th non-American winner in the LPGA's past 31 majors.

Despite an all-American final pairing of Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer - the first in 13 years at the Women's Open - 11 of the top 16 finishers in the U.S. national championship were foreign.

Not the way Creamer, No. 4 ranked in the world and a six-time winner looking for her first major, had imagined the day.

"Definitely not, no," she said. "But you learn from these. Just honestly, it was not my day. Inbee played awesome. Two under, that's a heck of a round out there. But it's probably the most disappointed I've been in a very long time."

Sweden's Helen Alfredsson finished second, four shots behind Park's winning 9-under 283, while Lewis was joined by South Koreans In-Kyung Kim and Angela Park in third place at 4 under. Creamer, fellow American Nicole Castrale and South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim all finished 3 under to share sixth.

Both Lewis, who had the 54-hole lead at 9 under, and Creamer, one shot back, shot final-round 78s.

They were not alone in their misery. Park was the only player among the top 12 after 54 holes to break par.

"I mean, I felt like I didn't really play that poorly," said Lewis, 23, a former NCAA champion for Arkansas playing in her first event as a professional. "I was hitting my shots a little farther, maybe adrenaline. A learning experience.

"But it's hard to be upset. I finished third at the U.S. Open, my first pro event."

Park, who became the 15th player to make the Women's Open their first professional victory, was welcomed to the winner's circle by countrywomen In-Kyung Kim and Jeong Jang dousing her with two bottles of beer.

"Really can't believe I just did this," Park said. "I mean, especially with all these big names on the trophy that have been very, very successful with the golf. They've done so much. Hopefully, I'll put a couple more of my name on there. It will be great."

Ironically, Park, who replaces Se Ri Pak as the Open's youngest winner, was drawn to the game after her countrywoman claimed that distinction with a victory 10 year ago. After watching Pak's victory on television with her father, two days later she picked up a club for the first time.

"I didn't know anything about golf back then," she said. "But I was watching her. It was very impressive for a little girl. I just thought I could do that too."

At age 12 she came to the United States to work on golf and attended private school in Eustis, just north of Orlando, before later relocating to Las Vegas to work with teacher Butch Harmon.

In 2006 Park turned professional and joined the minor-league Duramed Futures Tour after being turned down for a special age exemption by the LPGA. Although she did not win on the Futures Tour, she had 11 top-10 finishes and joined the LPGA in 2007.

Her best finish before Sunday's victory came earlier this season when she tied for second in Portland after a final-round 64. But by the back nine Sunday, Park and everybody at Interlachen could see the first victory coming.

"I started thinking about it at the 15th hole when I knew I was three shots ahead of everybody," she said. "But I just try to stay focused and stay calm all day. I was able to handle myself out there. I'm very happy with that."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534 or melliott@tampatrib.com.

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