She beat Annika Sorenstam, Lorie Kane and Jennifer Rosales on the third hole.

She beat Annika Sorenstam, Lorie Kane and JenniferRosales on the third hole.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Fifty-four holes wasn't enough to decide the 2003 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic champion. They needed three playoff holes to do it.
Rachel Teske, an eighth-year pro from Queensland, Australia, dropped in a 20-foot birdie putt on the third sudden-death hole, to defeat Annika Sorenstam, Lorie Kane and Jennifer Rosales in a four-way duel at Squaw Creek Country Club Sunday afternoon.
Teske, who had to birdie the final two holes of regulation play just to get into the playoff, hit her final drive right down the middle of the 18th fairway on the final playoff hole.
Her second shot landed on the green, about 20 feet short of the hole, and after Sorenstam just missed from 45 feet and Kane missed from 22 feet, Teske rolled her putt right in the middle of the cup.
She still had to wait as Rosales had a 15-footer for birdie, but her putt also slipped past the hole and the $150,000 first place check belonged to Teske.
The four leaders all shot 12-under-par 204 for the tournament.
Seventh tour win
It was Teske's seventh victory on the LPGA Tour, the first since last season when she won twice, including a two-hole, sudden-death win over Sorenstam at the Ping Banner Health event.
"It felt really good to birdie the final two holes, knowing that I had to do it to get into the playoff," Teske said. "I've been playing really solid and putting well and the shots today gave me a lot of confidence.
"Anytime that you play well and give yourself an opportunity to win or get into a playoff it's special," she added.
Teske shared the second-round lead with Jean Bartholomew at 9-under, with Sorenstam a shot behind.
Sorenstam took the lead with birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and took a two-shot lead with a birdie on the par-3 ninth hole to go to 12-under.
Sorenstam never made another birdie, making nine straight pars on the back nine, but had opportunities. She hit every green on the back nine and her birdie putts ranged from 6 to 25 feet, but she missed them all. Her 6-footer on the par-4 14th hole lipped the cup, but that was as close as she came.
Her playing partner, Rosales, birdied No. 10 to go to 9-under and then dropped in birdie putts of 5 feet on No. 14, 10 feet on No. 17 and 4 feet on No. 18.
Breaks tournament record
Kane started the day at 3-under-par and shot a tournament record 9-under 63 to become the leader in the clubhouse and then waited for the others to follow.
Sorenstam shot a final round 4-under 68 as did Rosales, while Teske had a 3-under 69.
On the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, Sorenstam had the best opportunity to win with an 8-to-10 foot putt, but slid it just past on the left.
On the second playoff hole, the par-4, No. 10, Rosales had the best chance to win but just missed a 12-footer that tailed off to the right.
"I wasn't tired at all," said Teske. "I haven't had that many opportunities to win this year so I wanted to make the most of this one.
"I had a lot of opportunities, but didn't make the putts early," she said. "I missed a short putt on the 16th hole and then said to myself that I had to birdie the final two to get in the playoffs."
Pak makes run
Three golfers finished at 10-under 206, two shots behind the leaders, led by former Giant Eagle champion Si Re Pak. The others were Beth Bauer and Catrin Nilsmark.
Bauer shot 65 on Sunday, while Nilsmark finished with a 66 and Pak a 68. Amy Fruhwirth and Meg Mallon, who were in a group at 9-under 207, both equaled the old tournament record of 8-under 64, while the third member of that group, Jeong Jang, shot a 66.
Grace Park, who finished third here a year ago, had a final round 66 to finish at 8-under 208.
Defending champion Mi Hyun Kim had a final round 68 and finished at 211 to tie for 21st place.
mollica@vindy.com