Inbee Park Wins First 2013 Major by 4 Shots

Inbee Park

wins her second major championship at

The Kraft Nabisco Championship

on Sunday afternoon. Park fired a -3 under par 69 at

The Dinah Shore Tournament Course,

and beat fellow South Korean,

So Yeon Ryu

by four shots. American,

Lizette Salas

began the day in second place, playing with Park in the final group, and shot a seven over 79, ending her attempt to win her first major at -2 under for the week.

Park got it going early with birdies at the first two holes, in fact, all six of her birdies on the day, came in pairs. She put up a few bogeys, the last coming on the 17th that trimmed her lead from five. Her nearest competitor, So Yeon Ryu finished earlier in the afternoon, after firing a -7 under 65, and posting a -11 under clubhouse lead that stood until Park finished. This was Inbee Parks fifth career LPGA victory.

Lizette Salas had a terrible day, and seemed to let the pressure of the moment get to her. She started the day with a double bogey at the first hole, and another at the 17th. She didn’t make a birdie on the day, and was never a factor.

"“Well, that made my day much easier, that’s for sure,” said Park. “I holed a long one on the first hole, and a birdie start is always a good thing, and I never really shot over par starting with the birdie, so that gave me a lot of confidence.”"

No one came within four shots of Park throughout the day until fellow South Korean and close friend, Rolex Rankings No. 9 So Yeon Ryu, birdied her final hole on No. 18 to post the low round of the week, a 7-under 65, to finish 11-under par for the tournament and runner-up honors.

Inbee Park dominated this tournament at The Mission Hills Country Club during the entire weekend, and with her putter. She is without a doubt, one of the tour’s best with the flat stick. She is currently ranked 4th in Rolex Rankings, and is projected to move into second place when the new standings are released. She has had her eye on that position, and with two wins in five starts could overtake Stacy Lewis soon for the number one spot.

Stacy Lewis shot even par on Sunday, and ended the week at -1 under par. She looked lost all week, and never recovered from a triple bogey she made on Thursday. Amateur, Lydia Ko fired a -3 under 69 on Sunday, and finished the year’s first major at -2 under par.

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