Weibring Gets Back in Swing

D.A. Weibring rebounded from a recent bout with fatigue brought on by Bell’s palsy and played nearly flawless golf from tee to green Sunday to win the Greater Hartford Open at Cromwell, Conn.

Weibring shot a final-round 67 for a 10-under-par 270 total, four strokes ahead of Tom Kite for his fifth title and first since learning he had Bell’s palsy earlier this year.

“I had a lot of emotions going on,” Weibring said. “I knew I had a chance to win today, and that was important giving what I’ve experienced this year. . . . All the time I worked out when I was ill, I thought about having a chance like this. And I had it today.”

The $270,000 first prize is nearly 10 times the amount Weibring had earned this year, pushing his total to $302,200.

Kite, looking for his first title since 1993 and 20th of his career, shot a 68 for his first top-10 finish since January 1995.

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Amy Benz self-destructed in a bid to win her first LPGA event in 13-plus years on tour and Dottie Pepper turned it into her second victory in as many weeks by winning the ShopRite Classic by four strokes at Somers Point, N.J.

Pepper shot a two-under 69 in a final round that was twice suspended for a total of 5 hours 16 minutes by rain. At 8:22 p.m. EDT, she finished in darkness with a tournament-record 11-under 202 total in becoming the first player to win consecutive events since Laura Davies in 1994.

Benz hung on for second despite a five-over 76 that included six bogeys and a birdie.

“My tempo felt great in the morning, but I came out after the first rain delay and got a little quick with my swing,” Benz said.

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Isao Aoki shot a five-under 66, pulling away from the field with three consecutive birdies and an eagle on the front nine for a five-stroke victory in the Kroger Senior Classic at Mason, Ohio.

Aoki finished at 15-under 198 for the 54-hole tournament with defending champion Mike Hill and late-charging Rocky Thompson tying for second.