Aug 24, 2008 - 8:46 PM
0 shoutsPORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Cristie Kerr birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff to win the $1.7 million Safeway Classic on Sunday.
Kerr closed with a 7-under-par 65 to get to 13-under 203 and force a playoff with Helen Alfredsson and Sophie Gustafson at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
A birdie from 15 feet at the first playoff hole gave Kerr her 11th career LPGA Tour victory and a first prize of $255,000. It was Kerr's first win since the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.
"I'm just elated," Kerr said. "I've been in contention a couple times this year but faltered on Sunday a little bit. I just knew that if I hit it good enough, and with the way I putt, if I hit it good enough today, I would have a chance come the end of the tournament."
Kerr's chance came at the 383-yard, par-4 18th, where the playoff began and where she fired an 8-iron approach to 20 feet. She birdied the hole in regulation, draining a 12-footer to get in the playoff, and came through again with the tournament on the line.
"That putt was a lot more difficult than the one I had in regulation," Kerr said. "I was trying to get to the same point because I knew what the read was, but it didn't quite work out that way and I kind of pushed my 8-iron a little bit.
"But I still hit it closer than they were, and when they both missed, I was relishing the fact that I had a putt to win."
Alfredsson entered Sunday's final round with a one-stroke lead and closed with a 69. Gustafson signed for a 68 to earn a spot in the playoff.
Alfredsson also birdied No. 18 to earn a spot in the playoff, making birdie from five feet after a bogey at 17.
"I wasn't very comfortable on the tee today and I didn't really give myself a chance," Alfredsson said. "I don't know what it was. I was hitting it really well in the morning and I couldn't bring it out to the golf course."
Gustafson had seven birdies and three bogeys on Sunday and also followed a bogey at 17 with a birdie to get in the playoff.
"I played well, and I can't ask for any more than that," Gustafson said. "I can't control what anybody else is doing."
Katherine Hull, who captured the Canadian Women's Open last week, finished fourth at 11-under after a 67.
Defending champion Lorena Ochoa finished in a tie for sixth at 7-under.
