Angela Stanford finishes on top at the SBS open in Kahuku, Hawaii while local favorite Michelle Wie comes in second with a 3 stroke deficit.
For the most part of the game, it seemed like Wie had the trophy in hand, but Stanford closed in on her and ended the game with a 2 under 70. Wie instead scored a disappointing 73, effectively missing the chance to win her first tournament as a member of the LPGA.
Stanford saw her chance to score above Wie when the 19-year-old player scored a double bogey on the 11th hole.
“That was the moment I needed to step up because that was my chance,” said Stanford.
By the 12th hole, Stanford was only down by 1 stroke. She skillfully used her irons to her benefit and made her way back to the top of the leader board. She scored birdies in three consecutive holes and by the 15th hole, she was already 2 strokes above Wie.
The 31-year-old Stanford then sealed her win when she birdied the final hole.
Later, Stanford commented on how her experience gave her an edge over the much younger Wie.
Wie, despite her loss, walked away with a positive spirit saying, “I just had one bad hole…I’m kind of disappointed in that. But there’s a lot of positive things I can take from this week.”
Both Standford and Wie started the day at under 8. This was the first time that Wie had gone on to play in the final day since the 2006 US Women’s Open where she tied fro the 3rd spot.