Rancho Mirage, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Brittany Lincicome eagled the final
hole of regulation to get into a playoff on Sunday, then parred the third
playoff hole to defeat Stacy Lewis and win the ANA Inspiration.
Lincicome carded a 3-under 69 to post 9-under-par 279. Lewis, who was in the
final group, missed a birdie putt to win on the par-5 18th hole of regulation.
She closed with a 2-under 70 to get into the playoff on the Dinah Shore
Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club.
The duo returned to the 18th tee for the playoff, all three times. Both missed
the fairway with their tee shots the first time around, and reached the green
with their third. Lincicome 2-putted for her par, then watched as Lewis’
birdie effort slid by the edge.
On the second extra hole, it was nearly the same story. Both players reached
the green in three with Lewis five feet closer and one a similar line.
Lincicome’s putt narrowly missed the left edge. Lewis also just missed her
birdie try on the left side.
The third time around both players laid up with their second shots, but Lewis
found a sand filled divot. She came up short of the green with her third, then
Lincicome dropped her third inside 10 feet. Lewis hit a poor chip and was
still outside Lincicome.
Lewis, the 2011 winner, again missed, this time her par effort came up short.
Lincicome’s birdie try slid by the edge, but she tapped in for par and her
second victory at this event.
Morgan Pressel nearly holed out for eagle at the last, but settled for a kick-
in birdie to cap a 2-under 70. She ended alone in third at minus-8.
Sei Young Kim, who led entering the final round, made one par on the final
nine. Kim and Lewis traded the lead several times over the final nine holes,
but a double-bogey at 14 and bogeys at 15 and 17 dropped Kim to 7-under-par
281 after a closing 75. She was joined in fourth by Carlota Ciganda (68) and
Anna Nordqvist (69).
Last year’s winner Lexi Thompson posted a 2-under 70 to grab seventh place at
minus-6.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
