June 5, 2000
MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (AP) - Juli Inkster didn't know exactly where she stood - until it was too late.
Inkster appeared to have her 24th LPGA title wrapped up Sunday in the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic, but bogeyed the final two holes to finish a stroke behind South Korean rookie Grace Park.
"I'm disappointed because this was my tournament," Inkster said. "But you know I have to say that it is kind of hard to play when you have no clue where you stand.
"I'm a leaderboard watcher and I like to know where I stand all the time. With no leaderboards out there, it is impossible. I think I would have played differently if I had known where I was."
Park, playing in the group behind Inkster, birdied Nos. 16 and 17 to take the lead and finished with a par for a 2-under-par 70 and a 14-under 274 total. The 1988 U.S. Amateur champion earned $111,500 for her first tour victory.
On the final hole, Park put her second shot just off the back fringe, about 40 feet away, then chipped about 4 feet past to set up for winning par putt.
"I could feel my arms shake, but every time that happens I think the putt is going in," the 21-year-old former Arizona State star said. "I don't want to be, but I can't control that."
Park said a long rain delay in the middle of the round helped her regroup.
"I needed that break," said Park, who was tiring in the sticky South Carolina temperatures that reached close to 100 degrees on the weekend. "I missed some shots, some short putts the beginning of the round. I needed it to redeem myself."
After the delay, Inkster made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 12th and an 8-footer on No. 13 to reach 15 under.
"On No. 16, I knew how I stood, but I was not sure if I was up one or up two. I even asked people and no one knew," said Inkster, who took a two-stroke lead to the 17th tee.
She still seemed in control after a layup to the par-5, 17th. But it skipped into thick grass behind the green and Inkster stubbed a chip. She then missed a 15-foot putt from the fringe.
Meanwhile, Park was on the way to a birdie, rolling a difficult chip from the right of the green within 4 feet.
Inkster ran into trouble again on No. 18, pushing her second shot right of the green, hitting it 10 feet past and missing the putt.
Inkster finished with a 70 to tie for second with Pat Hurst, who also closed with a 70.
Kristal Parker shot a 71 to finish fourth at 10-under 278, and Michelle McGann was another stroke back after a 71.