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Can’t stop Karrie Webb runs away with Nabisco for first major title victory
Posted: Monday March 27, 2000 03:36 PM
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) -- Karrie Webb proved unstoppable during a four-day run through the LPGA's best players. Webb shot a 2-under 70 to win the Nabisco Championship by 10 shots over defending champion Dottie Pepper on Sunday in the tournament's largest margin of victory ever. The previous best was Amy Alcott's eight-shot win over Pepper in '91. Last year, Pepper ran away from the field, setting a 72-hole record with a 19-under 269 total that beat Meg Mallon by six strokes. This year, it was Webb's turn. The Australian led wire-to-wire and finished at 14-under 274. She has finished either first or second in seven consecutive LPGA events, dating to the AFLAC Champions last October. She has four wins and three seconds in those events. The highlight of Webb's round came on the par-3 5th hole, which she aced using a 6-iron from 170 yards. The ball bounced once on the green and Webb looked away to get her tee out of the ground, then she jumped in joy as it rolled into the hole. At the green, Webb plucked the ball out of the hole, kissed it and tossed into the cheering crowd. Pepper, bothered by back spasms after she slipped on wet grass at the practice range Saturday, never made a serious run. She shot par-72 for the third straight day to finish at 4-under 284, one shot ahead of Meg Mallon. Cathy Johnston-Forbes and Michelle Redman tied for fourth at 2-under 286. Helen Dobson and Chris Johnson tied for sixth at 1-under 287. Aree Wongluekiet, the 13-year-old Thai sensation, wound up tied for 10th at 1-over 289 after a 75 that included a two-stroke penalty on the 14th hole. She was penalized for playing her ball from the wrong position when it moved one-eighth of an inch after she addressed it. The error was noticed by ABC-TV. Webb continued a Nabisco tradition by jumping in the murky water at the 18th green, with a friendly shove from Pepper. Webb jumped in feet first, followed by her caddie. Singer Celine Dion waded in to shake hands with both of them. Divots: Webb earned two points for the win, giving her 25 points toward the 27 required to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. However, she must wait until 2006, when she completes 10 years as an LPGA member to be inducted. Annika Sorenstam is in a similar situation. She earned her 27th point by winning in Tucson, Ariz., on March 12, but has to wait until 2003 for induction. ... Trish Johnson was disqualified after failing to sign her scorecard. Her final round 73 would have put her at 294, a tie for 31st. ... Annika Sorenstam was never a factor all week. She finished at 4-over 292, along with two-time Nabisco champion Juli Inkster. ... Webb has a chance to win as much as $2.5 million as part of the new Nabisco Grand Slam Challenge. If she wins another major championship this season, she'll earn a $250,000 bonus. A third major would be worth $1 million,and a sweep of all four LPGA majors is worth $2.5 million. ... The tour takes a two-week break and resumes April 13 at the Longs Drugs Challenge near Sacramento, Calif.
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