Alfredsson Provides the Emotion as She Scores First LPGA Victory

An emotional player won the Nabisco Dinah Shore golf tournament Sunday in a final round that didn’t have much suspense or drama.

Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson shot a par 72 at Mission Hills Country Club to win her first tournament on the LPGA tour. Veteran Betsy King and Dawn Coe-Jones failed to seriously challenge the winner.

The three players were tied for the lead after 54 holes and played in the same group on Sunday.

Alfredsson, 27, took charge early in the round and had a three-stroke lead going to the final hole. She bogeyed the 18th hole after her second shot found the rough.

Alfredsson had 72-hole score of 284, four under par. King, 37, who has won 28 tournaments, shot a two-over-par 74 and tied for second at 286 with Amy Benz and Tina Barrett.

Coe-Jones shot a 75 for a 72-hole score of 287, tied with Missie Berteotti.

“I feel incredible. I’ve been dying to win over here,” said Alfredsson, who was the LPGA rookie of the year in 1992.

Alfredsson said that she attended the tournament last year, adding that it is much better to be inside the ropes than outside.

Even though she is in only her second year on the LPGA tour, she is an experienced player, having won in Europe, including the Women’s British Open in 1990.

She earned $105,000 during the weekend.

The Swedish national flag was unfurled next to her as she sat and answered questions.

Alfredsson is an admittedly emotional player, who sometimes swears at her putter in Swedish. Her body language shows her disgust with a bad shot, as on the 12th hole, which she bogeyed on Sunday.

“I think she is too emotional on the course, to her detriment,” King said.

“But talent-wise, she has the game to do it. When I’m out there, I don’t want to show any weakness to my opponent--that I’m upset, or struggling or whatever. From a strategy standpoint, it’s important not to do that.

“But she held it together. I’m a perfectionist, and that’s the only thing I could possibly pick out to criticize (about) her game.”

When told of King’s remarks, Alfredsson said: “I can’t help the way I am. I tried to be calm when I came over here (to the United States), but it’s just my style. I like to live the game.”

She took control on the eighth and ninth holes.

King, who was behind Alfredsson by one stroke, hit her tee shot to within a few inches of the cup on the par-three, 166-yard eighth hole.

Alfredsson was on the green, 24 feet away from the cup, and made her birdie putt before King got her tap-in birdie.

Then, Alfredsson got another birdie at the par-five ninth hole with a 16-foot putt, while King was making par.

King got a birdie at the 11th hole to close the gap to one stroke again, but fell out of contention with bogeys at the 12th and 13 holes.

When Alfredsson finished her round with a tap-in bogey at No. 18, she was embraced by Amy Alcott, a three-time winner of the Dinah Shore tournament.

“Amy is such a good friend,” Alfredsson said. “She left a note in my locker, and I took it out with me on the course. It was a very special note, and I’m taking it with me.”

Alfredsson did not reveal what the note said.

King beat Alfredsson Nov. 8 on the fourth playoff hole in a tournament in Japan.

“It was her turn then,” Alfredsson said. “Today was my turn.”

Alfredsson’s winning score of 284 was the highest since 1977, when Kathy Whitworth won at 289. The weather was mild, but the rough has become more menacing over the years.

King, who needs two more victories to become a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, didn’t seem overly disappointed.

“I’m playing well and I’m due to win,” she said. “I don’t look at this performance as a negative.”