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Pettersen Outlasts Kerr to Win 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship

2011-05-22T19:42:00Z

Rolex World No. 3 Suzann Pettersen earned her 7th career victory by outlasting World No. 4 Cristie Kerr 1 up during the championship round of the Sybase Match Play Championship. Pettersen won six matches over four days to win the trophy and a $375,000 champion’s purse at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.

“We would like to congratulate Suzann for outstanding play throughout the week,” said John Chen, Chairman and CEO of Sybase, an SAP Company. “Her ability to overcome some of the top contenders in the field truly speaks to her talent and determination. We also want to congratulate Cristie on another fabulous performance in her well accomplished career. The nature of match play competition certainly delivered exciting contests throughout the week for spectators and fans alike.”

Pettersen held a slim advantage early by taking two of the first four holes. However, Kerr evened the match with birdies on holes 5 and 8. Pettersen birdied holes 9 and 15 to go 2 up. While Kerr birdied hole 17, Pettersen saved the match on 18 to win 1-up.

“I know [Cristie] was going to birdie 17 so it came down to 18 [and] 18 has been awfully good to me,” said Pettersen. “When you love what you do, you dig deep…especially when it’s all on the line, every putt, every shot is on the line.”

Pettersen reached the finals by upsetting both World No. 1 Yani Tseng (quarterfinals) and the No. 1 seed Na Yeon Choi (semifinals). She also defeated #49 Natalie Gulbis (Rd. 1), #45 Amy Hung (Rd. 2), and #21 Stacy Lewis (Rd. 3).

Kerr reached the finals without facing a higher-seeded player with wins against #48 Amanda Blumenherst (Rd. 1), #60 Belen Mozo (Rd. 2), #47 Kyeong Bae (Rd. 3), #6 Ai Miyazato (quarterfinals), and #18 Angela Stanford (semifinals). Kerr won $225,000 in earnings with her runner-up finish.

Number one seed Na Yeon Choi finished third, earning $150,000 by defeating last year’s runner-up Angela Stanford 4&3 in the consolation match. Stanford earned $112,500 for her fourth place finish.

Hamilton Farm Golf Club received praise from players and guests for both their hospitality and their maintenance of the course. “For me [the course] was perfect,” said Pettersen. “The greens were rolling pure. A great thanks to all the staff… they’ve done a fantastic job.”

Volunteers Appreciate Kindness of Players

2011-05-21T10:31:00Z

Written By: Emma Chrystal

Gladstone, NJ – The Sybase Match Play Tournament hosts 64 of the best professional women golfers from around the world. In order to make sure everything runs smoothly, the help of 385 volunteers is needed. The volunteers are here everyday from start to finish to help Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Octagon Global Events, and the LPGA make sure the tournament goes as planned.

Some of the volunteers are new to the tournament this year, where others are veterans. One volunteer, George Leahy, has been volunteering since the tournament was in West Chester. He has been following the Tour since then and has enjoyed doing it every year.

“I just love watching women’s golf because technique,” Leahy noted. “Their technique is wonderful. It shows that it is technique and not necessarily size and power. It’s very enjoyable.”

Leahy feels that volunteering is very important to running an event like this.

“To run something like this and to do it effectively, you need a lot of people,” Leahy explained. “We have got a wonderful support team out here and it’s an enjoyable place to volunteer.”

Leahy couldn’t speak more highly of the women on the tour. He mentioned that they are always very thankful and he enjoys working around them.

“I think the women are wonderful. I think that they come through and they are appreciative of what we do and they thank us. They are nice to be around.”

Without the help of the volunteers this tournament couldn’t be what it is today. Their participation in the event makes the Sybase Match Play Tournament as great as it is.

Chairman's Challenge Results

2011-05-20T14:10:00Z

Congratulations to LPGA Tour professional Beatriz Recari and amateur and Sybase guest Ringo Chan for winning the second annual Chairman's Challenge on the par-3 hickory course at Hamilton Farm Golf Club. Recari and Chan teamed up to score 11-under par, a two stroke win over runner-up finishers Kristy McPherson and Susan Townsend. John Chen (8 feet, 6 inches on Hole #3), Jeff Toia (8 feet, 11 inches on Hole #7), Tom Pittman (10 feet, 9 inches on Hole #10), and Raj Nathan (3 feet, 9 inches on Hole #18) won closest to the pin awards.

For full results > click here

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2011-01-21T18:59:00Z

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2010-01-26T14:29:00Z

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