Lincicome wins Canadian Women's Open by 1 stroke

By The Associated Press
August 30, 2011

MIRABEL, QB — Brittany Lincicome sank a par putt on the 18th hole in a driving rain Sunday to win the Canadian Women's Open by one stroke.

Lincicome closed with a 2-under 70 to edge defending champion Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis, claiming her fifth LPGA Tour victory and second this year. Lewis had the low round of the day with a 67 to finish tied with Wie at 12 under.

Wie, who won the tournament last year in Winnipeg, sank long putts on the 15th and 17th holes to make it close. She needed a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, but missed the green, took a drop to get clear of a fence, and made par.

Americans took the top five placings, with Cristie Kerr (71) and Angela Stanford (72) finishing at 11 under.

Fears that the tournament would not be concluded because of remnants of tropical storm Irene did not pan out. It rained heavily on the back nine for the leaders and there were gusting winds, but nothing that force a stoppage of play.

"I was very patient, singing a lot of songs, very chatty," said Lincicome, who said singing to herself is part of her sports psychology program to stay focused. "The weather was not great, but I was still having fun. I'm definitely going to remember this win."

She cautioned that "I'm not a good singer, so I'm not singing for you."

Organizers moved up start times by 90 minutes, had the players grouped into threesomes instead of twosomes, and started groups on both the first and tenth tees to get the fourth round in before the course could be washed out.

If the final round had been canceled, there were plans for a playoff between the three 54-hole leaders: Wie, Tiffany Joh and Ai Miyazato.

Lincicome pulled her tee shot on 18 into a tent and had to take a drop, but managed to get the ball up near the green, chip it close and make the winning putt. She also had fine saves on the eighth and ninth.

"I'm growing as a golfer, I guess," said Lincicome. "If this would have happened a couple of years ago I'm not sure how I would have handled it."

Playing in the last group, Wie needed birdie on 18 to force a playoff, but missed the green to the right and left her chip shot wide and short. She made the putt to keep a share of second place and win $177,981.

"I'm proud of the way I hung in there," Wie said. "Coming in, I had a lot of clutch shots that I can really take positives from. It feels good to be back in contention again."

Have you ever been to the LPGA Canadian Women's Open? Tell us about your experience in 500 words or more at my Canadian Women's Open golf experience. Your comments will be published on our gls55 holdings blog and we’ll toss you a FREE t-shirt for your efforts! (while quantities last, plus S&H)

Golf Equipment Depot news index:
2011, 2010: autumn, summer

To continue shopping click golf clubs.

Lincicome wins Canadian Women's Open by 1 stroke

Attending a Canadian Women's Open? You need airfare, a hotel, car rental and golf tickets.