The 13-year-old becomes the youngest winner in the 27-year history of the event.
By The Associated Press

PALM COAST, Fla. – Michelle Wie now has a national championship to go with her unlimited potential.

Wie, the 13-year-old phenom from Hawaii, outlasted Virada Nirapathpongporn for a 1-up victory Sunday at Ocean Hammock to become the youngest winner in the 27-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links.

“I’m happy out of my mind,” said Wie, who graduated from eighth grade last month. “I like beating a lot of people. I’m glad I survived all those matches.”

It wasn’t easy for the 5-foot-11 girl, whom Tom Lehman once dubbed the “Big Wiesy” because her swing reminds so many of Ernie Els.

She took the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole, only to give it back when her drive found the water hazard that lines the left side of the fairway.

Nirapathpongporn, who last year won the NCAA title as a sophomore at Duke, missed a 3-foot par putt on the 17th to fall behind, only her third bogey of the 36-hole final. Her 20-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to extend the match broke below the cup.

Wie tapped in her 2-foot par putt on the 18th green and raised her right arm to celebrate her first victory outside Hawaii.

Catherine Cartright was 17 when she won the Women’s Public Links in 2000.

The youngest to win any USGA event was Aree Wongluekiet, who was 13 years, 3 months in 1999 when she won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur, which is restricted to players 18 and younger.

Wie is the youngest player to win any adult USGA event. Laura Baugh was 16 when she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1971.

Kaye wins Buick Classic in playoff

HARRISON, N.Y. – Jonathan Kaye won the water-logged Buick Classic for his first PGA Tour title Sunday, holing a 12-foot eagle putt from just off the back of the 18th green on the first hole of a playoff with John Rollins.

Kaye, who lost a playoff to Chris Riley last year in the Reno-Tahoe Open, made a 4-foot birdie putt in regulation on the par-5 closing hole to match Rollins at 13-under 271 on the saturated Westchester Country Club course.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said Kaye, a five-time runner-up in seven full seasons on the tour. “That’s why we’re all out here – to win. It’s nice to finally come out on top.”

Kaye played 30 holes Sunday, completing the rain-delayed third round with a 3-under 68 and matching Rollins – who missed a 12-foot birdie putt in the playoff before Kaye’s winning eagle – with a 67 in the final round.

Teske wins by four in Rochester LPGA

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Rachel Teske knows what a playoff victory over Annika Sorenstam can do for a golfer’s confidence. A week later, she won the Rochester LPGA.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Teske said. “To play well last week and then to finish it off strong today, it’s really satisfying.”

The Australian eagled the 17th hole and held off rookie Lorena Ochoa with a 4-under 68 Sunday. She won a second consecutive title for the second time in her career.

Teske ended at 11-under 277, retaining the four-stroke lead she carried into the final round at the tree-lined Locust Hill course. It was her eighth win in seven years on the U.S. tour.

Ochoa, a 21-year-old Mexican, closed with a tournament-low 66 to take second place at 7 under.

Tewell wins Farmers Charity in playoff

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Doug Tewell birdied the third hole of a playoff with Eamonn Darcy of Ireland on Sunday to win the Farmers Charity Classic on the Champions Tours.

Tewell won with a 14-foot putt after the two finished the 54-hole event at 15 under. Tewell, 53, has won seven times on the Champions Tour but is the tour’s 17th champion in 17 events this year. Tewell forced the playoff with Darcy when he made a 15-foot putt for an eagle on the 518-yard, par-5 17th hole.

Kjeldsen holds on to win by two strokes

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen overcame three bogeys on the front nine and shot even-par 72 Sunday for a two-stroke victory at the Diageo Championship.

Kjeldsen, who led by five strokes entering the final round, offset bogeys on the first, third and eighth holes with birdies at Nos. 2, 11 and 14 to finish at 9-under 279 for his first European tour victory.