Inbee Park, at 19, is youngest to win U.S. Women's Open
GOLF
Inspired to start playing golf by Se Ri Pak, Park shoots two-under-par in the final round to win the U.S. Women's Open by four shots with a 283 total. Ochoa is tied for 31st.
EDINA, Minn. -- The youngest U.S. Women's Open winner in history introduced herself to the record books and a largely unknowing public as the tournament's 63rd champion Sunday, when Inbee Park walked softly over Interlachen Country Club to claim her first victory and her first major title.
Only 19, and inspired to take up golf by fellow South Korean Se Ri Pak's landmark U.S. Open victory in 1998, Park broke out of a pack of Parks -- she was one of six who played here -- and won easily. Her closing round of two-under 71 was worth a four-shot victory over Helen Alfredsson.
Park earned $585,000 and put up four consistent rounds of 72-69-71-71, but her nine-under total of 283 wasn't as much about a number as a quiet expression of expert course management. And it was definitely not a show of brute force on the long and difficult Interlachen layout.
"This is very, very special for me, and I will never forget this moment," Park said. "I really can't believe I did this. This is great."
No one had fewer than Park's total 115 putts, and even though her driving average of 268.2 yards was only average, her steadiness was her greatest asset.
"I tried to stay focused and try to stay calm all day."
Alfredsson, who began the day tied for third with Park behind Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer, finished with a 75 and moved up. So did Angela Park, whose 73 tied for third with Lewis and In-Kyung Kim, five shots behind the winner.
"She played fantastic," Alfredsson said of the winner. "She was very calm, never changed anything. And really, that's very impressive for a 19-year-old.
"That really is what is the key in a tournament like this, just to keep plugging along . . . whoever can do that, my hat's off. But I was more impressed with her game. She's going to win a lot more."
On a blustery day, the final-round scoring average of 76.16 was nearly two shots higher than Saturday's third round.
Those who failed to find their way at Interlachen -- and they were many -- know all about that.
It is both the measure and the meaning of golf that it does not automatically reward those who beseech it the most. That is why Paula Creamer remains in search of her first major title, her five-over 78 adding up to disappointment instead of a victory that was within her reach.
Creamer started the day only one shot from the lead and ended it six shots back and in a tie for sixth place.
