Kerr wins U.S. Women’s Open

Left out of most conversations about top young American players, 29-year-old Cristie Kerr won the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday at Southern Pines, N.C., by making only two bogeys over her final 45 holes.

It was the first major title for Kerr, who finished at five-under-par 279 and earned $560,000 for the 10th victory of her career, which began when she turned pro after high school.

It meant another disappointing finish for the world’s No. 1 player, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, who remains without a major title despite having been tied with Kerr with five holes to play.

Kerr broke the tie with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th at Pine Needles. Ending a 23-hole Sunday that was necessary because of the previous day’s storm delays, Kerr closed her final round with a tap-in for par that gave her a 70 and a two-shot victory over Ochoa and 18-year-old Angela Park, who also shot 70.

Kerr had moved into the lead by finishing off a third-round 66 in the morning. After Kerr’s final-round birdie on the 14th, Ochoa didn’t hit another green in regulation.

“Today was my day,” Kerr said. “That birdie at 14 was unbelievable. To hold it together ... it’s a dream come true.”

Ochoa will have to wait until the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews for her next shot at winning a major.

“I don’t need to be frustrated,” said Ochoa, who missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 13th, bogeyed the 17th and closed with a 71. “We still have one more major, and I’m going to try to get that one.”

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Brian Bateman, who entered the tournament 204th on the money list, birdied the final hole to break a four-way tie and win the Buick Open title at Grand Blanc, Mich., by one shot.

Before he closed with a three-under 69 to finish at 15-under 273, Bateman had never finished a tournament higher than third.

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Lonnie Nielsen, 54, who had not won in five years on the PGA Tour and in 91 starts on the Champions Tour, shot a two-under 69 for a two-shot victory over Loren Roberts in the Commerce Bank Championship at East Meadow, N.Y. Nielsen had a 54-hole total of 14-under 199.