The U.S. WomenÕs Open is traditionally played on the Fourth of July weekend and Meg Mallon earned the right to celebrate. Mallon fired a 6-under par 65 on the final day to win her second Open championship by two shots over Annika Sorenstam at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass.
The 41-year old finished the championship at 10-under par 274. Her 65 was the lowest final-round score ever by a champion; the 13 years between her two Open victories was also a record. She won hr first Open in 1991 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Tex.
Mallon started the day three shots behind the leader, Jennifer Rosales, her companion in the last twosome of the day, and moved into contention with three birdies going out, while Rosales bogeyed eight and nine to lose two shots to the field.
Mallon seized command with birdies at 11, 12 and 14, then saved par with a 20-foot par putt from the fringe at 16 to leave no doubt that destiny was on her side,
Sorenstam, who was trying for her third Open win, suffered from a balky putter; birdies at 16 and 17 brought her up two shots short at 8-under par after a final-round 67.
Kelly Robbins, who was part of a three-way playoff at last yearÕs Open, was briefly tied for the lead and wound up alone in third place at 6-under par after a 69. Rosales skied to a 75 and wound up alone in fourth place at 3-under.