NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Suzann Pettersen rallied to win the LPGA Safeway Classic on Sunday, overcoming a nine-stroke deficit with a 7-under 64 and beating Na Yeon Choi with a par on the first hole of a playoff at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
In the playoff, Choi’s second shot on the par-4 18th went into the water to the right of the green, and she missed a putt for bogey before Pettersen sank her winning putt.
Pettersen, coming off a victory Aug. 7 in the European tour’s Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle, won her second LPGA Tour title of the year and eighth overall. The Norwegian star jumped to No. 2 in the world rankings behind Yani Tseng.
Choi finished with a 73 to match Pettersen at 6 under on the Ghost Creek Course.
Choi, from South Korea, birdied the par-4 17th to take a one-stroke lead, but dropped a shot after leaving a chip well short on the final hole to force the playoff.
Christina Kim shot a 78 to finish a dismal 11 over, but it was just enough to keep her in the 10th spot in the points standings for the U.S. Solheim Cup team that will take on their European counterparts in late in September at Killeen Castle.
Pettersen has already earned a spot on the European Solheim Cup team. She eagled the par-5 10th hole Sunday to help propel her into the lead.
Hee Young Park, still looking for her first tour win, shot a 67 to finish third at 5 under.
Paula Creamer had a 68 to finish another stroke back. The fan favorite had one of the largest galleries of the day, including a pink-clad admirer who carried a sign reading “Go Paula, Cream the Field.”
Choi tied for second last year, two strokes behind Ai Miyazato.
Miyazato had a final round 68 to finish this weekend at 1 under, while Michelle Wie shot a 75 on Sunday to finish the tournament at 9 over.
Kim went into the event trying to hold off Katie Futcher, Kristy McPherson and Vicky Hurst for the last of automatic spots on the U.S. Solheim Cup team. Rosie Jones was set to add two captain’s picks late Sunday for the Sept. 23-25 matches.
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