South Korean grabs Classic by 7-stroke

Published September 24, 2002

PALM HARBOR (Florida), Sept 23: South Korea’s K.J. Choi won the $2.6 million Tampa Bay Classic Sunday with a massive seven-shot victory over runner-up Glen Day.

Choi, who earlier this season became the first Korean to win on the U.S. PGA Tour, shot his third consecutive 68 in the final round to finish on 17-under-par 267 at the Copperhead Course.

Day’s final-round 69 gave him second place, while former PGA champion Mark Brooks finished on nine-under 275 for third.

John Morse, 44, playing only his fifth tournament of the year, tied for fourth on 276 with Australia’s Rod Pampling.

Paul Gow, another Australian, placed sixth on 277, while Pat Perez and Craig Barlow tied for seventh on 278.

Choi’s margin of victory was the largest on the tour this season, beating by one stroke Vijay Singh’s six-shot win in the Shell Houston Open.

The Korean, the winner of the Compaq Classic in May, fired a course-record 63 in the first round to take the lead and never relinquished his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Only world number one Tiger Woods has won a PGA Tour event this season while leading every round, which he did at the U.S. Open and in Sunday’s World Golf Championship-American Express Championship in Ireland.

US regain Cup

EDINA (Minnesota): The U.S. beat Europe 15 1/2 to 12 1/2 to regain the Solheim Cup women’s team golf trophy Sunday.

The final day started with holders Europe leading 9-7 but the Americans called the shots in most of the 12 singles matches.

Juli Inkster led the way with an early 4 and 3 success over Raquel Carriedo of Spain and the U.S. soon went 10-9 clear.—Reuters

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