Pak Races to Third Major Title

Se Ri Pak charged past Karrie Webb on Sunday in the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, England, for her third major title.

“There was nothing to lose and I was trying to go for it,” the 23-year-old South Korean said. “It was the last day and the last chance for me. I just played and played. I thought that if I finished the last three holes perfect I’d be in good shape.”

She did, closing with a par and two birdies for a six-under-par 66 and a two-stroke victory over compatriot Mi Hyun Kim.

Pak also moved into position to top Webb as the youngest female player to complete the career Grand Slam.

Winner of the LPGA Championship and U.S. Open as a rookie in 1998, Pak will have three chances to make more history. If she wins the Nabisco Championship in any of the next three years, she’ll break Webb’s record as the youngest--at 26 years 6 months--to win all four majors.

Webb, who flopped in Sunday’s final round to slide 10 places from fifth, set the mark by winning the U.S. Open and LPGA Championship this summer.

Pak, who began the round four strokes behind Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, eagled the first hole and added birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 en route to an 11-under 277 total.

Pak earned $221,650 for her fourth victory of the year to pass Annika Sorenstam and Webb for the top spot on the money list with $1,248,575.

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Tom Pernice Jr. won the second PGA Tour title of his career, steadying himself after consecutive bogeys on the back nine to win The International at Castle Rock, Colo.

In a tournament that traditionally features low scores and a rapid accumulation of points on the final day, the leaders merely survived.

Pernice, the second- and third-round leader, added only a point to his total in the final round, finishing with 34 points for a one-point victory.

Chris Riley birdied three holes on the back nine to finish with 33 points in the modified Stableford scoring system that awards players with five points for eagle, two points for birdie, none for par, minus-one for bogey and minus-three for double bogey or worse.

Bobby Wadkins became the 10th player to win in his Senior PGA Tour debut, closing with a birdie for a four-under 68 and a one-stroke victory over Larry Nelson and Allen Doyle in the Long Island Classic at Jericho, N.Y.

Wadkins, who turned 50 on July 26, is very familiar with the last player to accomplish the feat--his brother Lanny in 2000.

“It’s kind of neat that I get to put my name beside his,” Bobby Wadkins said of his brother, who won 21 times on the regular tour.

Wadkins, who didn’t win in 712 starts on the PGA Tour and in 65 on the Buy.com Tour, became the youngest player to win on the senior tour, one day younger than Gil Morgan was when he won the 1996 Ralphs Senior Classic.

Wadkins, who has earned more money than any player in PGA Tour history without winning ($2,817,532), earned $255,000.

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Despite finishing with two bogeys, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland managed a one-shot victory over Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter in the Scandinavian Masters at Loddekopinge, Sweden.

Montgomerie’s third victory in the event earned him a spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team that will face the United States at the Belfry in England from Sept. 28-30.