Charities, Teske are big winners

Second-place finisher Annika Sorenstam says she's ready for a break.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Tom Hollern, Mahoning Valley Sports Charities chairman, walked up to the awards table on the 18th green of Squaw Creek Country Club and picked up the winner's check.
"And underneath this check, you'll find ..." he said.
"A bigger check," said Rachel Teske with a laugh.
A much bigger check. A record check. A $460,000 check -- eclipsing last year's record of $457,000 -- which will go to support the MVSC.
The winner's check wasn't too shabby, either.
Teske birdied an 18-foot putt on the third playoff hole at Sunday's Giant Eagle LPGA Classic to beat Lori Kane, Jennifer Rosales and -- against everyone's expectations -- Annika Sorenstam.
"I don't know quite what to say," Teske, who won $150,000, said.
Competition
What could she say? Teske, a seven-time winner on the tour, rallied from two shots down on the final two holes, then battled the best women's golfer in the world for three playoff holes -- and won.
Not bad, huh?
"She's obviously a great player," Teske said of Sorenstam. "But I really feel when I play as good as I can, I have a great chance to win.
"I'm not in awe of her."
Teske, who has won more than $3 million over her seven-year career, finished tied for 52nd last year in her first appearance at the Valley tournament.
"When you give yourself an opportunity, you have to make the most of it," Teske, a native of Australia, said. "You don't get that many chances to win."
The playoff victory was a fitting finish to a fine weekend of golf, where the players battled a rain-soaked course and a mountain of mud during a mentally draining 54 holes of golf.
"The staff did a great job getting the course in shape after all the bad weather," Teske said.
The weekend was especially draining for Sorenstam, who has played in four straight tournaments and won two of them.
Last month she became the first woman in more than 50 years to play in a PGA event when she played in The Colonial.
"I'm ready to take a break," Sorenstam said.