Thursday, July 24, 2003
The former rookie of the year lost in a playoff at last year's event.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) -- The last month on the LPGA Tour has been one of first-timers and an old-timer.
Hee-Won Han won the Big Apple Classic on Sunday to become the tour's third first-time winner in the last four weeks.
The other?
Beth Daniel, who at 46 became the tour's oldest winner last week with a victory in the Canadian Women's Open.
Han was the tour's rookie of the year in 2001 and she had three seconds last year, including a devastating playoff loss in the Big Apple Classic.
The tears she had walking off the 18th green last July were replaced with a huge smile on Sunday.
"I am so happy," Han said after matching par in a final-round 71 that gave her a two-shot victory over Meg Mallon. "It is a nice feeling."
The run of first-time winners started with Angela Stanford in the ShopRite Classic and then Hilary Lunke won the U.S. Open the next week before Daniel's historic win.
Down the stretch
Han and Mallon were tied entering the final round and the closest golfer to them was Cindy Figg-Currier who was five shots back.
Han appeared to make it a one-woman final round when she took a four-shot lead after Mallon bogeyed the par-4 12th.
But Han bogeyed the next two holes to cut that lead in half and suddenly Mallon, who has 14 career victories, was right there as she started the closing four-hole stretch where she had four birdies on Saturday.
Mallon did birdie two of them -- and almost made birdie putts on the others -- but Han matched her with birdies on Nos. 15 and 18, both par-5s.
"After 14 I said, 'Four more holes, try to make birdies,"' Han said.
The two were enough.
Applying pressure
"I tried to put a little pressure on her and she handled it really well," Mallon said. "It shows what kind of character she has and what drive she has to win out here and this will probably catapult her in her career."
Mallon's 25-foot birdie attempt on 16 just rolled around the cup and a 45-footer for birdie on 17 just touched the cup. Han matched the pars and then both birdied the final hole.
"It was a totally different day today but I still felt like I had a chance," said Mallon, who 60-foot eagle attempt on the final hole came up just short. "On 16, I thought I made that putt. On 17, I swear I thought I made that one, too. I'm very disappointed. You don't get chances like this all the time."
Han had one here last year but she missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have given her the win in regulation and then lost to Gloria Park in a one-hole playoff.
Bright future
Mallon was asked if Han has the potential to be one of the LPGA's next group of stars.
"Absolutely, especially after the way she handled herself today," she said. "She will do well judging by the her character in coming back from last year and the determination to win this tournament."
Han, who won $142,500, entered the tournament 23rd on the money list with $284,594 and four top 10 finishes.
Mallon, who was 27th on the money list, won $85,962. This was her fourth top 10 finish in this tournament with the best a third in 1997.
Figg-Currier had a 72 and finished tied for third at 5-under 279 with Grace Park, who had a 68.
Michele Redman had a 69 to finish fifth at 280, one stroke in front of Kristal Parker-Manzo (68), Rachel Teske (69) and Denise Killeen (69).
Suzy Whaley, the 36-year-old teaching pro from Avon, Conn., had a 72 in her final round before playing in this week's Greater Hartford Open on the PGA Tour. She finished at 7-over 291.