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Inkster wins in Safeway

Battling wind and rain, Hall of Famer Juli Inkster overcame a four-stroke deficit to win the Safeway International on Sunday.

The 45-year-old Inkster won her 31st career US LPGA Tour title and first since 2003. She shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 15-under 273, two strokes ahead of Sarah Lee (73).

Lee, who had led since the last hole of the second round, double-bogeyed the par-4 14th hole to allow Inkster to take a one-stroke lead.

Inkster bogeyed the 16th to drop back into a tie, but Inkster locked up the victory with a birdie on the par-5 18th as Lee was bogeying the 17th. Inkster chipped out of the rough to 2 feet to set up the birdie putt.

Lee, who had eagled the 18th two days earlier, missed another eagle when her chip shot rolled past the cup to seal Inkster's victory.

Aree Song (73) finished third at 12-under 276.

Weather played havoc with the final round. At about 9:30am, hail began to fall and play was suspended for nearly 2 hours. Clouds shrouded the nearby Superstition Mountains, leaving a dusting of snow near the crown.

The final group's tee time was pushed to 2:04pm from 12:14. The 18th hole was played under the glare of hastily erected spotlights.

Annika Sorenstam, the two-time defending Safeway International champion, shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 281.

Rod Pampling thought he had thrown away the Bay Hill Invitational. Greg Owen gave it right back Sunday by missing two putts inside 3 feet.

Pampling closed with an even-par 72 for a one-shot victory over Owen, prevailing over the final two holes after starting the day with a four-shot lead.

Trying to win his first US PGA Tour event, Owen took the lead by a stroke by getting up-and-down from the bunker for a birdie on the par-5 16th. And when Pampling bogeyed the 17th, Owen was ahead by two shots, and faced a 3-foot par putt.

But he pushed the putt so badly it never touched the hole, and then he missed the 2-foot comeback try to fall back into a tie for the lead.

On the 18th, Owen hit a remarkable shot from the bunker with his feet above the ball to 12 feet, needing that par putt to force a playoff. Instead, the ball lipped out for a bogey to give him a 69 and leave him alone in second place.

Owen dropped his putter and turned away, covering his face with both hands.

Pampling, a winner for the second time on the US tour, was equally stunned.

"It's golf," Pampling said. "I was a little down for making bogey, and suddenly I'm tied. It's said to see. But it's golf."
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