Suzann Pettersen won the HanaBank Championship on Sunday for her ninth LPGA Tour title, beating Catriona Matthew with a 5-foot birdie putt on the third hole of playoff after blowing a big lead.
Seven strokes ahead of Matthew at the start of the round, Pettersen shot a 2-over 74 to finish at 11-under 205 on Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course. The 43-year-old Matthew finished with a 67.
They played the par-5 18th three times in the playoff, halving the first two extra holes with pars.
‘’I felt like I had it all in my hand both the first time around, second time around, and the third around,’’ said Pettersen the Norwegian who also won the 2007 event. ‘’’It’s getting closer. I’m getting closer to the hole.’ … And the third time around I just made a solid stroke, and it dropped.’’