Wie still winless, but LPGA Championship experience was one to remember

With eagle and ace, Wie savors LPGA Championship

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Even though Michelle Wie never made a run at winning the LPGA Championship, she certainly gave her sizable galleries reason to cheer this week.

Wie opened with a 2-under 70 on Thursday, hit a hole-in-one Saturday and started her final round Sunday with an eagle on the par-4, 358-yard hole.

Never mind the three double bogeys and eight bogeys, all of which contributed to a 2-under 287 and a 23rd-place tie. As far as Wie was concerned, there was absolutely nothing to complain about.

“I felt like I played great. I really don’t think the score reflected my game,” she said, shortly after a bogey on No. 18 capped her final-round 70.

“I feel like I did really well, I feel like I was swinging really well. Everything felt pretty positive,” Wie said. “I just couldn’t get anything going, and some of the putts didn’t drop. A couple of sprayed shots here and there (hurt).”

There were also some incredibly accurate shots. Her first hole-in-one as a pro came with an 8-iron on the 152-yard 7th hole Saturday. On Sunday, she put the ball in the 1st hole off the fairway for an eagle.

“I think it’s definitely a reflection of how good I was hitting my irons,” Wie said. “I thought I was going to hole a couple more today, but it’s fun to start off a round like that.”

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY: Se Ri Pak dropped in a par putt on the 18th hole Sunday and received a smattering of applause from the small gallery as she walked off the Bulle Rock course for perhaps the final time.

It was a somber farewell for Pak, who won her third LPGA Championship here in 2006. This is the last time the tournament will be held at Bulle Rock because McDonald’s is withdrawing a sponsor.

“This is such a great golf course, a major golf course. I really like to play here,” Pak said. “I feel kind of sad that we won’t be here anymore. It’s unfortunate.”

Pak completed her round more than an hour before the final twosome teed off. The South Korean shot a 74 for the day and finished far off the pace at 6 over. Over four days she made 12 birdies, 12 bogeys and a pair of double bogeys.

“You know what? I really struck the ball solid and hit the fairways. I’m putting well,” she said. “But I just couldn’t get up and down.”

WORKING OVERTIME: Eight golfers had to return to the course early Sunday to finish the third round, which was halted by darkness late Saturday.

Anna Nordqvist, who stood atop the leaderboard when play stopped, had four holes remaining. Lindsey Wright, who was in second, had three holes left.

Nordqvist made two birdies and Wright parred her three holes. Then both tried to grab some sleep before pairing up for the final round.

“I’ll go home and rest. Back to the hotel,” Nordqvist said.

“I feel good, considering I had 4½, five hours sleep,” Wright said. “I feel in a good place mentally, which is always good. I’ll probably go back and take and relax for the next six hours.”