Kim Holds Off Gulbis

Natalie Gulbis tried to mask the hurt inside.

“I’m always smiling. But it’s very upsetting,” Gulbis said after Mi Hyun Kim rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat her and win the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Sunday in Sylvania, Ohio.

Gulbis, who often models for magazines and calendars, is followed everywhere by huge galleries and is one of the best-known players on the LPGA Tour. Still, she had never finished better than a tie for third in her 4 1/2 years on tour. The sudden-death defeat will likely amplify the questions about her ability to win.

Kim earned $180,000 for her second victory of the year and seventh in seven seasons on the tour.

“She had so many fans!” Kim said. “I still cannot hear.”

Gulbis said Kim had one of the best short games on tour, but said she still should have beaten her. After birdieing six of her first 10 holes in the final round, Gulbis parred the last 11 despite having some terrific birdie opportunities.

It appeared Gulbis, who had five consecutive birdies on the front nine in the final round, had ended her drought when she stared down a 12-footer for birdie and the win on the second playoff hole. But she missed it.

“I had chances,” she said. “It’s not like I didn’t have chances.”

After Kim hit her clutch putt on the final playoff hole, Gulbis was wide on a nine-foot putt to continue the playoff.

The three top finishers each closed with six-under 65s, with Kim and Gulbis completing regulation at 18-under 266. Paula Creamer, who birdied Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17, missed a 12-footer at No. 18 that would have gotten her into the playoff.

Se Ri Pak closed with a 66 to finish fourth at 268.

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Bobby Wadkins overcame a four-stroke deficit and a wild adventure on the final hole to win the Senior Players Championship for his first major victory on the 50-and-older circuit in Dearborn, Mich.

Wadkins, 54, shot a four-under 68, making five straight birdies on the back nine, to charge past third-round leader Loren Roberts and Jim Thorpe, whose 69 Sunday made him the tournament’s runner-up for a third time.

Wadkins was 14 under for the tournament. Wadkins, the younger brother of Lanny Wadkins, won despite a finishing hole that he won’t soon forget.

On the par-four 18th, Wadkins drove it left into a marsh and had to take a drop. His third shot fell into a greenside bunker. His shot from the bunker flew past the green and into a spectator on the hill. His fifth shot from the rough nearly went in the hole, but had too much pace. Wadkins then holed a 12-footer for double bogey to seal the win.

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Johan Edfors shot an eight-under 63 to win the Scottish Open at Luss by two strokes and make a late run for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Luke Donald shot a 66 for a share of second place with Charl Schwartzel (67) and Andres Romero (69).

Edfors, who finished with a 13-under 271 total, started the round six strokes behind overnight leaders Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn. They had 72s for a share of fifth place with defending champion Tim Clark (69) and Englishman Benn Barham (70).

Ernie Els shot a 69 and Sergio Garcia a 68 to finish four strokes back. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman (71) finished six strokes behind and Colin Montgomerie (71) was another stroke back.