Angela Stanford won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic on Sunday for her second career LPGA Tour title, holing a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the final hole for a 1-over 73 and a one-stroke victory over China’s Shanshan Feng.
“It’s been so long,” said Stanford, also the 2003 ShopRite LPGA Classic winner.
The 30-year-old Texan, four strokes ahead entering the day after consecutive 67s in the second and third rounds, had an 11-under 277 total on The Crossings course at Magnolia Grove. She earned $210,000.
The 19-year-old Feng birdied the 18th for a 68.
Kim Hall was third at 8 under after a 69, and Hee Young Park (70), Danielle Downey (70) and Katherine Hull (73) followed at 7 under.
Stanford had four birdies, three bogeys and double bogey in the final round.
“I’m more relieved than excited. I’m just relieved that I did it again,” Stanford said. “I honestly believe the second time is harder, because the first time you don’t really know what’s happening and then you just try to do it again. I’ve been trying, and probably too hard.”
Sanford missed a 3-foot putt for birdie on 17 and a 12-foot birdie try on 18 before make the 3 1/2 -footer for par to claim the title.
After the putt, she dropped her putter and turned and hugged caddie Dan Chapman. Fellow players Brittany Lincicome and Kristy McPherson then ran onto the green and showered her with champagne.
“I didn’t get that my first time,” Stanford said of the shower. “I won (the first time) in my third year and I feel like I’m a different person now. I think it’s with anybody, you kind of grow up. You’ve seen a lot of peaks and valleys in five years.”
Feng had her chances to earn her first career win, lipping out on a putt for eagle on 16. She did eagle the fourth hole, her fourth eagle of the tournament and second on the 448-yard, par-5 hole. She also eagled 16 twice.
“I was pretty nervous at the last hole because I had a chance to win, but I had to make birdie,” said Feng, who shared the first-round lead. “I was very happy, but I knew that’s what I could do. I did my best. … I really want to win, but I know I’m still young so I’ll have my chances.”
Bell-Micro LPGA Classic Scores
204 Angela Stanford 70 67 67
208 Katherine Hull (Aus) 71 69 68
210 Angela Park (Bra) 68 73 69, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 67 73 70
211 Cristie Kerr 69 66 76, Reilley Rankin 70 69 72, Kristy McPherson 70 74 67, Kim Hall 70 74 67, Hee Young Park (Kor) 71 70 70, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 71 73 67, Danielle Downey 69 78 64
212 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 73 71 68, Mollie Fankhauser 71 69 72, In Kyung Kim (Kor) 74 70 68, Heather Daly-Donofrio 72 69 71, Brittany Lang 72 73 67
213 Michelle Ellis 68 70 75, Sarah Jane Kenyon 73 69 71, Stacy Lewis 70 76 67, Jeong Jang (Kor) 69 72 72
214 Paula Creamer 78 69 67, Irene Cho 68 72 74, Brandie Burton 75 71 68
215 Anna Rawson (Aus) 67 73 75
216 Jamie Hullett 73 70 73, Laura Diaz 72 68 76, Allison Hanna-Williams 73 69 74, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 73 71 72, Nicole Castrale 68 76 72
217 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 73 71 73, Na On Min (Jpn) 73 74 70, Louise Friberg (Swe) 74 73 70, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 70 75 72
218 Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 70 75 73, Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 75 69 74, Michele Redman 73 73 72, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 69 73 76, Birdie Kim (Kor) 76 71 71, Diana D'Alessio 75 73 70, Pat Hurst 75 71 72
219 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha) 70 75 74, Giulia Sergas (Ita) 73 75 71, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 74 74 71
220 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 71 73 76, Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 73 73 74, Katie Futcher 69 74 77, Christina Kim 71 75 74
221 Kelli Kuehne 71 74 76, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 72 75 74, Becky Morgan (Wal) 76 71 74, Lisa Strom 75 72 74, Charlotte Mayorkas 73 74 74, Kris Tamulis 73 74 74
222 Jackie Gallagher-Smith 72 75 75, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 73 75 74, Karen Stupples (Eng) 72 75 75, Wendy Ward 71 73 78, Nancy Scranton 76 72 74, Lorie Kane (Kor) 71 75 76, Ashli Bunch 74 73 75
223 Marisa Baena 71 77 75, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 74 70 79
224 Jane Park 70 78 76, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 75 77, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 73 74 77
225 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 75 73 77, Elizabeth Janangelo 73 72 80, Sarah Lee 74 71 80
226 Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 69 76 81, Michelle McGann 70 77 79, Jill McGill 70 76 80, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 71 75 80
228 Paige Mackenzie 71 77 80, Janice Moodie (Sco) 71 76 81
231 Johanna Head (Eng) 74 74 83
