Golf: Lewis captures LPGA title

PRATTVILLE: Stacy Lewis fired a three-under par 69 to win the $1.3-million Navistar LPGA Classic for her third title of the year and a jump from third to second in the world rankings. Lewis, whose only prior career title came at a major in last year’s LPGA Kraft Nabisco, finished on 18-under 270 for 72 holes to beat defending champion Lexi Thompson by two strokes. The US teen star fired a closing 66. “You have to hit it good here and hit some tricky putts,” said Lewis. “It’s stressful this course. Somebody can get on a good run and make a lot of birdies. And 16, 17 and 18 are tough finishing holes.” South Koreans Haeji Kang and M.J. Hur each fired 68 to share third with American Angela Stanford on 273. Lewis also took the Shoprite LPGA Classic in June and the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in April.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2012.