2002 TOURNAMENT South Korean Kim outdueled Robbins

Last year's Giant Eagle Classic was the fourth LPGA event she's won.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- At 5-foot 1 and just more than 100 pounds, Mi Hyun Kim is definitely not the biggest champion of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, but her victory here last July at Squaw Creek Country Club was certainly an exciting one.
Kim, the 25-year-old native of Seoul, South Korea, overcame an outstanding field to take home the William G. Lyden Memorial Trophy and the $150,000 first-place check by shooting a 14-under-par 202 total for 54 holes.
That total put her one shot ahead of runner-up Kelly Robbins, who held a one stroke lead going into the tournament's final round.
It was the fourth victory on the LPGA tour for the 1999 LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Key birdie
Kim won the tournament with a sensational birdie on the par-4 17th hole, which put her in front for keeps as she finished with a 3-under-par 69.
Her 202 total was the best winning score of the five LPGA tournaments held at Squaw Creek.
Kim became the 10th different champion in the 13-year history of the tournament which began in 1990 at Squaw Creek. The tournament was played at Avalon Lakes Golf Course from 1993 to 2000.
Robbins, who took home a runner-up check of $91,325, shot a 1-under-par 71 in the final round for a 203 total.
She led Kim by two-strokes after nine holes of the final round. But suffered a crucial bogey on the par-4 11th hole when after a huge drive, she hit her second shot into a greenside bunker. Kim birdied the hole to draw even in the match.
Deciding hole
The deciding hole was the 17th, when Kim, who was being out driven by 25 to 30 yards off the tee by Robbins, hit a 179-yard 7-wood to within four feet of the hole and made the putt for birdie to take the lead for the first time in the tournament.
"I had about that same shot both days previous in the tournament, so I was a little big more confident," Kim said. "I know how I can hit the ball. I had an uphill lie, so I aimed a little right."
When Robbins missed the green on the final hole, she needed to chip-in to tie Kim and almost sank the putt. Kim then two-putted for the victory.
Wedge woes
Robbins said that she was in-between clubs on both No. 11 and No. 18.
"I found that I was in-between clubs several times out there today," she said. "I gripped down on the wedge and a lot of times that happens when you try to do that. It happened to me on 18 also."
Two-time defending champion Dorothy Delasin, who had come from behind in both of her wins here, almost pulled it off again, finishing with a 5-under-par 67 and tying for third place with Grace Park at 205.
Another two-time champion of the event, Ohio native Tammie Green, also made a gallant effort.
After opening with a 4-over-par 76, she came back with back-to-back rounds of 7-under-par 65 and finished tied for fifth place with Natalie Gulbis and Beth Bader at 206.
New clubs magic
Kim, who began playing with a new set of clubs the previous Tuesday, said that she loves playing in Ohio, especially because of the grass.
"I just love Ohio grass," She said. "The ball seems to go further and the ground is so much firmer and you can really go down after the ball."
Two other former champions of this tournament also had good finishes on Sunday.
Beth Daniel, the 1990 champion, shot a 7-under 209 total and tied for 15th place, while the 1999 champion, Jackie Gallagher-Smith, shot a 6-under-par 210 and tied for 17th place.
Opening round
Bader, a second-year LPGA pro, and Robbins held the lead after the first round of the tournament as each tied the Squaw Creek Country Club tournament record with 8-under-par 64s.
They held a one-shot lead over Kim and 14-year-veteran Danielle Ammaccapane, who both opened with 7-under-par 65s.
The weather turned nasty in the afternoon with lightning and rain suspending play for more than two hours and dumped more than a half-inch of rain on the course.
Bader and Robbins both finished before the rain, which they felt was to their advantage.
"You could see it coming," Robbins said. "The greens were already pretty soft and you were putting through footsteps already."
Six golfers were at 4-under-par 68 including former champions Gallagher-Smith and Daniel.
Hall of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez, who was making her farewell appearance at the event, shot an opening round 2-over-par 74. She played her final 17 holes in 1-under-par after making a triple-bogey seven on the first hole.
Second round
Robbins followed her opening round 64, with a 4-under-par 68 and held a one-shot lead after the tournament's second round.
Kim was all-alone in second play as she match's Robbins' score of 68.
First-round co-leader Bader shot a 71 and fell into a third place tie with Ammaccapane, three shots behind Robbins.
Seven other players were all within six shots of the lead, including Delasin, who shot her second straight 69.
"The course played a little bit longer and the greens were very soft and you could fly it right at the pin," Robbins said. "I would not be surprised at an scores at six or eight under par at any time tomorrow."