Golf Gal Beatriz Recari Wins Her 1st On The LPGA Tour

Beatriz Recari seals her first LPGA Tour win in her rookie year.

Spain’s Beatriz Recari stunned even herself when she claimed her first LPGA Tour title in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club in California on Sunday.

See her profile HERE.

She also became the first Spaniard in 16 years to win an LPGA Tour event, Marta Figueros-Dotti being Spain’s last winner in 1994.

On a wet, soggy day, joint overnight leader Recari kept her cool to card a solid, final round of 2-under par 70, that was just enough to edge her home to victory ahead of the seasoned, French No 1, Gwladys Nocera, who also carded a 70 after a birdie on the 18th.

Recari, in her rookie year in America, had shared the overnight lead with American Michele Redman and Korea’s Ilhee Lee, but Redman was only able to manage a closing 72 and Lee fared even far worse, stumbling to a 78 to slip back to a share of 15th place, eight shots behind the winner.

Beatriz Recari in Round 3

Recari said she could hardly believe her good fortune – an LPGA title she had coveted for much of her young life and a take-away cheque for $165,000 – this especially in view of the fact that her entry into professional golf was nowhere near as spectacular as player’s of the calibre of Michelle Wie and the many college stars who, even before qualifying for the LPGA Tour, had made headlines in the amateur ranks.

Last year Recari captured a title on the Ladies European Tour, but so far this year had struggled on the LPGA Tour until last week when that all changed, the Spanish starlet wrapping up her maiden title on Sunday with a wonderful exhibition of accurate driving. [Golf365]

CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge
Final Leaderboard
1.B Recari -14
2.G Nocera -13
T3.K Icher -12
T3.M Redman
T5.C Kerr -11
T5.W Ward
7.S Feng -10
T8.A Stanford -9
T8.B Lincicome