Sorenstam Fades and Teske Takes Advantage

An exhausted Annika Sorenstam turned to a course marshal late in Sunday’s final round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic and said, “I’m done.”

An hour or so later, Rachel Teske made sure she was.

Teske made a 35-foot birdie on the last hole to join a four-player playoff, then ended it by rolling in an 18-foot putt for birdie on the third hole of sudden death to win the tournament and collect $150,000.

Sorenstam, Lori Kane and Jennifer Rosales each missed birdie putts on their third playoff holes. It was the seventh victory for Teske in her career.

“I just felt like I walked straight into a wall,” said Sorenstam, who had won her last two tour events. “I kept eating carrots, energy bars, bananas and I tried to drink everything I could.

“My husband said, ‘What do you need?’ I said, ‘I need a week off. Do you have one of those in your pocket?’ ”

Teske, who shared the lead with Jean Bartholomew at the start of the round, closed with a 69 to finish at 12-under 204. She made the playoff when her long birdie putt at No. 18 slammed into the back of the cup, popped into the air and settled into the cup.

“My thought was to get some pace on the ball, but I hit it way too hard,” she said. “My caddie said coming up the 18th fairway, ‘Hit it in the middle of the hole.’ Fortunately, it jumped up and went.”

Kane set a tournament record with a 63 that included four birdies on the front nine and five on the back without a bogey.

Rosales’ 68 provided the highest finish of her pro career. She tied for third at last year’s British Open.

She could have won outright but missed a seven-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole before missing from 16 feet after Teske had made hers.

Sorenstam, who shot a 68, sagged at the finish and rested by sitting on her golf bag between shots.

“My knees have been shaking for the last three hours, so I’m ready to go home and take a break,” she said.

She didn’t birdie on the back nine despite numerous chances, missing a seven-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole that would have given her the victory and averted the playoff.

She also could have won on the first playoff hole, but missed a 10-foot birdie putt.