Recari claims first LPGA Tour win

Battling through cool and damp conditions,
Beatriz Recari posted a two-under 70 Sunday to collect her first LPGA Tour
title at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

Recari completed the event at 14-under-par 274 and posted not only her first
win, but also her first top-five finish on tour.

"I'm kind of like realizing that I won. I still cannot believe it. I think
it'll take me kind of a couple days to assimilate that," admitted Recari, who
collected $165,000 for the win. "I did a very good job. I had three weeks off.
I worked very hard, and that paid off. I played very well last week. And I got
a great feeling when I came in."

Gwladys Nocera also closed with a two-under 70 at Blackhawk Country Club to
take second place at minus-13.

Third-round leader Michele Redman managed an even-par 72 to tie for third
place with Karine Icher (70) at 12-under-par 276.

Redman shared the third-round lead with Recari and Ilhee Lee, who struggled to
a six-over 78, which dropped her into a share of 15th at minus-six.

Recari led by one at the start of the back nine. She converted a birdie effort
on the par-four 13th.

The Spaniard made it two in a row with a birdie on the par-four 14th. Recari
was three clear of the field thanks to her fourth birdie in four days at 14.

Recari parred her next two holes, but saw her lead shaved at 17. Nocera closed
with a birdie on the 18th, while Recari tripped to a bogey on the 17th as her
lead went from three to one.

Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, Recari sealed the deal with a par at the
last.

"I just had to put myself in position where I could have an easy two putts,
and I did, so I'm very, very proud," Recari said of the 18th.

Early on, Recari birdied the third to take a one-shot lead. However, she gave
that stroke right back with a bogey on the par-five fifth.

Recari atoned for that mistake with a birdie on the sixth. She cruised around
the turn with six consecutive pars.

Nocera parred her first seven holes before a birdie on the eighth got her to
12-under. Around the turn, she stumbled to a bogey on the 10th, but made up
for it with a birdie on No. 13.

"I mean I didn't make many putts today, so I mean that was time to make one.
It was good it came on 18, but I wish I had made a couple more before, but
that's golf," Nocera said of her round.

World No. 2 Cristie Kerr closed with a two-under 70 to share fifth place with
Wendy Ward (72) at 11-under-par 277. Shanshan Feng (67) was one stroke back at
minus-10.

First-round leader Brittany Lincicome carded her second straight 71 to end
alongside Angela Stanford (68) in eighth at nine-under-par 279.

NOTES: Libby Smith, who Monday qualified this week, shot 74 Sunday to slide
into a tie for 15th...Paula Creamer had never finished below 19th at this
event, but also had never won. She shot 70 on Sunday to share 25th at minus-
four...The LPGA Tour heads to Asia next week for a new event, the Sime Darby
LPGA Malaysia.