KAHUKU, Hawaii –Angela Stanford spoiled Michelle Wie’s bid for a victory in her first start as a US LPGA Tour member, overcoming a three-stroke deficit to win the season-opening SBS Open by three shots on Saturday.
Stanford closed with a 2-under 70 for a 10-under 206 total at wind-swept Turtle Bay, giving her her fourth career win and third in seven starts. Wie had a disappointing 73 for her second straight runner-up finish in the tournament.
Brazilian-born Angela Park struggled in the tradewinds and had a 75 to tie for third with South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi (69) at 4-under 212, six strokes behind Stanford.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (72), the 2008 rookie of the year, and Japan’s Ai Miyazato (71) were 3 under, and Cristie Kerr (69), Sarah Lee (69) and Brittany Lang (73) followed at 2 under.
Jennifer Rosales faltered with three bogeys in the last nine holes and hobbled with a two-over par 74, dropping to joint 55th with a 224. She won $3,222. (AP)