Pak rallies for 3-shot win at Classic

Kutztown, Pennsylvania (Agence France-Presse): Pak Se-ri staged another final-round charge Sunday, birdying six of the last seven holes, including the last four, to post a three-shot victory at the Betsy King Classic.

Two months after rallying from four strokes behind in the final round of the LPGA Championship, Pak erased an early three-stroke deficit to join Annika Sorenstam as the only players on the LPGA Tour with as many as three victories this season.

The South Korean star began the day three shots behind third-round leader Michelle Ellis and bogeyed two of her first three holes. But she eagled No. 5 and had eight birdies over the final 13 holes en route to a nine-under 63. The 24-year-old shattered Sorenstam's tournament record with a 72-hole total of 21-under 267.

Already second in the Player of the Year standings, Pak used the US$180,000 first prize to move into second place on the money list with just over $1.1 million.

Unheralded Angela Stanford fired her second straight 66 at the Berkleigh Country Club for a career-best second-place finish at 18-under 270.

That was two strokes better than Australia's Karrie Webb, who closed with a 69.

Ellis failed to take advantage of the rain-softened course, struggling to a two-over 74 to fall into a three-way tie for sixth place at 13-under 275.

Pak, who as late as Wednesday considered withdrawing as she battled the aftereffects of illness, said she had felt herself improving with every round.

"My body was sick for a couple of weeks, I got headache easily and was coughing. But I decided to play," she said. "Every day better score, swing better, feel better.

But the shot of the day came at 18, the 475-yard par-five where she hit a seven-wood second shot to six feet en route to her closing birdie.