Sorenstam Is Up to Par in LPGA Finale

Winning tournaments is par for the course for Annika Sorenstam, and that’s precisely what happened Sunday at the Desert Inn, where she parred the last 12 holes but still won the ITT/LPGA Tour Championship.

It might not have been breathtaking, but it was effective. If this were bowling, then Sorenstam had an alley full of spares.

She parred the back nine, then parred all three playoff holes to beat Pat Hurst and Lorie Kane and, in the process, learned something about the sport of golf.

“Sometimes,” Sorenstam said, “par is a good score.”

This time, it certainly was lucrative. She will take $160,000 home to Incline Village, Nev., by winning the last tournament in what has been a remarkable year. Consider:

* The victory was her sixth of the year, the most since Beth Daniel won seven times in 1990.

* Her $1,236,789 in prize money is an LPGA record.

* She won the Player of the Year award for the second time in three years.

* She broke Daniel’s record 70.38 scoring average set in 1989, but finished second to Karrie Webb by .04 of a point in the race for the Vare Trophy, 70.00 to 70.04.

“I think I need to share something,” Sorenstam joked.

After 72 holes, Sorenstam shared the lead at 11-under 277 with Kane, a 32-year-old Canadian, and Hurst, 28, from San Leandro.

Kane and Hurst already had finished and looked on as Sorenstam closed out her two-under 70 to make it a three-way playoff. It would have been a foursome, but Nancy Lopez played the last three holes in three-over and fell from a tie for the lead into sixth place.

The playoff began at No. 18 and that’s where it also ended for Hurst, who dumped her approach shot into the water. On the second playoff hole, the par-three 16th, Kane and Sorenstam two-putted for matching pars, so they moved on to No. 17 for the third playoff hole.

Sorenstam hit a nine-iron to 20 feet and two-putted to make her par. Kane, who slid her 20-foot putt five feet past the hole, pulled her comeback putt for par. The ball rolled left and stayed out of the hole to end it.

Even so, Kane could not keep from smiling.

“Annika, she’s the best we have, the best in the world,” Kane said. “She has the patience of Job. She doesn’t make mistakes. And when she does, she recovers very quickly.”

Kelly Robbins and Webb finished two shots out of the playoff at nine-under 279. Robbins, who had a 71, lost her chance to keep the pressure on when she hit her approach into the water on the par-five 10th. Webb’s eagle at the 15th probably saved the Vare Trophy, and her closing 69 was one of only six scores in the 60s Sunday.

Sorenstam’s rounds of 72-68-67-70 are noteworthy for their consistency, which is not exactly surprising since it has been a factor in her play all year. In 22 events, Sorenstam had 16 top-10 finishes.

Sorenstam had set goals of winning the player-of-the-year and money titles, so she felt fulfilled doing it.

“When you climb up the ladder, you’re living in a dream,” she said. “I don’t want to wake up. It’s kind of nice.”

Maybe since it looks so easy, Sorenstam should set her goals for 1998 right away.

“Can you let me enjoy this a little first?” she said.

Fair enough, but one thing’s for sure already. Sorenstam is leaving herself a tough act to follow.

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(C1) SORENSTAM’S SEASON AT A GLANCE

Tournaments: 22

Victories: 6

Top 10 Finishes: 16

Cuts Missed: 2

Scoring Avg.: 70.04

Earnings: $1,236,789*

* LPGA Record