Koreans takes top three spots in U.S. Women’s Open. Inbee Park wins 3rd major in a row

Inbee Park of South Korea methodically marched to history Sunday at seaside Sebonack Golf Club with an authoritative four-stroke victory in the 68th U.S. Women’s Open, joining Babe Zaharias as the only players in LPGA history to win the first three major championships of the season.

With a final-round 2-over-par-74, the world No. 1 kept runner-up I.K. Kim (74) at bay throughout the cloudy day and now is three-fifths of the way toward an unprecedented sweep of all five majors on the LPGA tour’s calendar this season.

In a nod toward her native country, perhaps it should be called the Da-seot (five in Korean) Slam?

“I think I have a heartbeat. I don’t know if Inbee has one,” said Karrie Webb, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame who has won seven majors. She tied for 13th. “You can obviously feel for someone like I.K. Kim who would be winning any other U.S. Open on this golf course if it weren’t for Inbee.

“Sometimes it’s just not good enough when someone is as hot as Inbee is.”

Park finished at 8-under 280 to win her second U.S. Women’s Open and then was doused in champagne by defending champion Na Yeon Choi and So Yeon Ryu. Kim finished at 4-under 284. Ryu, the 2011 winner of this championship, was the only other player to finish in red numbers at 1 under with a closing 72. Paula Creamer, the 2010 winner, shot 72 and tied for fourth with Angela Stanford (74) and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (76) at 1 over. Asian players have won the last 10 majors.

“I just hope this is not a dream,” Park said. “It feels great. It feels great to put my name on this trophy twice. That just means so much. … It was a tough day out there. The golf course was playing tough but I knew  I had the best equipment, including the Best Golf Push Cart . I tried to stay calm, and I think I did. I really stayed calm out there, and I just didn’t know what I was doing out there, also i had the remote control golf caddy which helped me alot for moving equipment from one side to another.  If I knew what I was doing (in terms of history), I think I wouldn’t be able to stand.”…

via Inbee Park wins U.S. Women’s Open; 3rd major in a row.

RANK	PLAYER	TODAY	THRU	TO PAR	1	2	3	4	TOTAL	WINNINGS
1	Inbee Park	+2	F	-8	67	68	71	74	280	$582,500
2	I.K. Kim	+2	F	-4	68	69	73	74	284	$350,000
3	So Yeon Ryu	0	F	-1	73	69	73	72	287	$217,958
T4	Angela Stanford	+2	F	+1	73	68	74	74	289	$127,972
T4	Paula Creamer	0	F	+1	72	73	72	72	289	$127,972
T4	Jodi Ewart Shadoff	+4	F	+1	70	69	74	76	289	$127,972