27 Oct 2014

Pace in breakthough LPGA win

Hainan Island - South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace won the rain-shortened Blue Bay LPGA on Monday for her first LPGA Tour title and second worldwide victory in nine days.

Four strokes ahead with five holes left when play was suspended on Sunday because of darkness, Pace finished off a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory over Germany's Caroline Masson.

The 33-year-old Pace won the South African Women's Open last week for her ninth Ladies European Tour victory. She's the second South African-born champion in LPGA Tour history, joining 15-time winner Sally Little. The victory was her third in China, following the LET's Sanya Ladies Open in 2010 and 2013.

Pace made a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to finish at 16-under 200 at Jian Lake Blue Bay.

Masson birdied the final three holes for a 67.

Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda tied for third at 11 under.

Wie finished with a 70. She tied for fifth last week in South Korea in her first start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring her right hand.

Korda, tied for the second-round lead with Pace, closed with a 72.

Rain delayed play for nearly four hours Sunday with the leaders halfway through the round, leading to the Monday finish in the tournament cut from 72 to 54 holes after play was washed out Friday. The start Monday also was delayed by showers.

The tournament was the fourth stop on the six-event Asian Swing. The LPGA Taiwan Championship is next week, followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.

Leading scores after the completion of the interrupted third and final round of the LPGA Blue Bay Championship in Sanya on Monday:

200 - Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 67-66-67

203 - Caroline Masson (GER) 67-69-67

205 - Michelle Wie (USA) 67-68-70, Jessica Korda (USA) 66-67-72

206 - Danielle Kang (USA) 68-68-70, Chella Choi (KOR) 68-66-72

207 - Lydia Ko (NZL) 69-70-68, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 67-68-72

208 - Jenny Shin (KOR) 71-70-67, Brittany Lang (USA) 67-68-73

209 - Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 70-72-67, Cristie Kerr (USA) 68-73-68, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED) 68, 72, 69, Belen Mozo (ESP) 72-67-70, Mariajo Uribe (COL) 69-70-70, Austin Ernst (USA) 71-66-72

210 - Ilhee Lee (KOR) 73-68-69, Sandra Gal (GER) 70-71-69, Lu Wanyao (CHN) 69-68-73

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