Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom wins second Symetra Tour title
GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) - Madelene Sagstrom ran away with the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women's Health Classic on Sunday for her second Symetra Tour victory in the first five events of the season.
The 23-year-old Swede won by six strokes, closing with a 2-over 74 to finish at 10-under 278 at The Links at Stoney Point. She earned $37,500 to push her leading total to $93,714 and join Cindy LaCrosse and Vicky Hurst as the only players in tour history to top $90,000 in a season. LaCrosse finished with $94,578 in 2010, and Hurst had $93,107 in 2008.
"It feels great and I am really, really happy," Sagstrom said. "I had a lot of fun on the golf course, but I'm not going to lie, it was a struggle in the beginning. I'm really happy that I got to this point and I'm holding the trophy."
Sagstrom moved within a victory of an immediate LPGA Tour promotion as a three-time winner, and is guaranteed a big tour spot next season with a top-10 finish on the Symetra Tour money list.
"I couldn't have imagined any of this," Sagstrom said. "I've been working hard to get myself to think that I'm good enough to play and be able to put scores down. What has really been working is to find a game plan and just stick to it."
Sagstrom opened with a 66 to take a three-stroke lead, added a 67 on Friday for a seven-shot edge and shot 71 on Saturday to push the advantage to nine. She has started the season with five straight top-five finishes, also winning the Chico's Patty Berg Memorial. The 5-foot-9 former LSU player was the Southeastern Conference player of the year last season.
"I'm out here to learn and I take it just as serious out here as I would if I was playing LPGA," Sagstrom said. "I know there are a lot of people that have the dream to play professional golf and I get to follow my dream. I'm not really worried about what could happen, I'm just having so much fun."
After making four bogeys and a birdie on the front nine, Sagstrom eagled the par-5 10th, dropped strokes on the par-4 16th and par-3 17th and birdied the par-5 18th.
"It is always fun to end on a birdie, Sagstrom said.
Thailand's Wichanee Meechai was second at 4 under after a 71. Ally McDonald (71) and Thailand's Pavarisa Yoktuan (72) were another stroke back.
Lorie Kane won the 18-hole Legends Tour event with a 71 for her second straight victory. The 51-year-old Canadian also won the Chico's Patty Berg Memorial, the joint event that Sagstrom also won last month in Florida.
She was four Legends victories after winning four times on the LPGA Tour.
"I'm excited because I'm playing good golf," Kane said. "I'm just trying to play and have fun. I hit the ball as hard as I can and if I make a putt, great, and if I don't, it's not the end of the world. I was telling some of the Symetra Tour players I wish I had thought that way six or eight years ago."
Kane earned $10,500.
Michelle McGann was a stroke back.