Wie wins LPGA Lotte Championship
Michelle Wie kisses the Lotte championship trophy after winning the final round of the 2014 LPTA Lotte Championship on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Wie won by one shot ahead of Angela Stanford to finish at 14 under.
Michelle Wie is doused with water and champagne after winning the final round of the 2014 LPTA Lotte Championship on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Wie won by one shot ahead of Angela Stanford to finish at 14 under.
Michelle Wie, right, is doused by fellow golfer Christina Kim after winning the final round of the 2014 LPTA Lotte Championship on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Wie won by one shot ahead of Angela Stanford to finish at 14 under.
Michelle Wie holds the Lotte championship trophy after winning the final round of the 2014 LPTA Lotte Championship on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Wie won by one shot ahead of Angela Stanford to finish at 14 under.
Michelle Wie holds the Lotte championship trophy after winning the final round of the 2014 LPTA Lotte Championship on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Wie won by one shot ahead of Angela Stanford to finish at 14 under.
Michelle Wie of Honolulu birdied three of the last seven holes to win the LPGA Lotte Championship Saturday at Ko Olina Golf Club for her third victory on tour and first on American soil. She fired a final-round 5-under 67 to shoot a 14-under 274 for the week to beat Texan Angela Stanford by two shots, who closed with a 1-over 73.
Wie took the lead on the 12th hole, moving to 13 under for the tournament with her fourth birdie of the day, thanks to a 15-foot putt. It was Wie’s first win in four years and happened on her home course.
She expanded the lead to two strokes with another birdie on the par-4 13th hole and never looked back. A large gallery surrounding the 18th green celebrated with her. She entered Saturday’s final round tied for second, four strokes behind Stanford, who fell behind Wie after parring the 12th hole.
Stanford birdied hole No. 14 while Wie made par, allowing Stanford to close within one shot of the Punahou School product, but Wie birdied No. 16 to seal the deal.
"I’m so happy I can’t think straight," Wie said. "I love everybody here in Hawaii and celebrating tonight is going to be fun. I’m so proud of myself. I had a blast out there today. It was fun."
Wie, 24, had won two LPGA tournaments but none in America.
