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Sports

Baek gets first win; Wie ties for fifth

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii’s Michelle Wie blasted out of a bunker on No. 18 Sunday in the final round of the KEB-HanaBank Championship.

INCHEON, South Korea » Kyu Jung Baek of South Korea won a three-way playoff Sunday to claim the LPGA’s KEB-HanaBank Championship.

Baek, making the first LPGA start of her career, shot a final-round 67 to finish tied at 10-under 278 with Brittany Lincicome of the United States and compatriot In Gee Chun, then birdied the first playoff hole on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club to take the title.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie finished two strokes back in a tie for fifth after a 67 that included three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 5. Wie was playing in her first tournament since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

In the playoff, Lincicome and Baek hit third shots to 4 feet on the par-5 18th. Lincicome missed her birdie putt, while Baek calmly made hers for the win. Chun’s hopes for the title were dashed when her approach shot went into the greenside water.

"Even before the playoff, I was in a similar situation for a similar shot with a similar break. When I played the KLPGA Championship," Baek said. "I focused and was aggressive."

The 19-year-old Baek has three victories this year on the Korean tour. She became the fourth teenager to win on the LPGA Tour this season, joining Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko and Hyo Joo Kim.

Martin makes PGA breakthrough

LAS VEGAS » Ben Martin made a 45-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole that sent him to his first PGA Tour victory in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Martin was one shot behind Kevin Streelman when his eagle put him back in the lead. He closed with a birdie for a 3-under 68 and a two-shot victory at the TPC Summerlin. The 27-year-old from South Carolina won in his 56th career start.

Moments after Martin made his eagle putt, Streelman missed a 5-foot birdie putt that would have tied him for the lead. Streelman still made five birdies over his last seven holes for a 65.

Sextagenarian Haas claims victory

CONOVER, N.C. » Jay Haas became the 18th player to win a Champions Tour event at 60 or older, closing with a 5-under 66 for a two-stroke victory in the Greater Hickory Kia Classic.

The 60-year-old former Wake Forest player has 17 victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning nine times on the PGA Tour. Joe Durant and Kirk Triplett tied for second, both shooting 66.

Ilonen takes World Match Play

ASH, England » Finland’s Mikko Ilonen beat top-seeded Henrik Stenson of Sweden 3 and 1 to win the World Match Play Championship.

In the morning semifinals, Ilonen beat Dutchman Joost Luiten 2 and 1, and Stenson topped South Africa’s George Coetzee 1 up.

Hend lands Hong Kong in a playoff

HONG KONG » Australia’s Scott Hend won the Hong Kong Open, beating Angelo Que of the Philippines with a par on the first hole of a playoff.

Hend closed with a 3-under 70 to match Que (66) at 13-under 267 in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.

 

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