Grand China Air - Final Round

Helen Alfredsson came from five strokes down at the beginning of the day to win the Grand China Air LPGA by three.  It was Helen's second victory of 2008 and the seventh of her career.  Yani Tseng came on strong to finish second at -9 while Laura Diaz finished third at -8.

Alfredsson came out firing with birdies on five of her first eight holes to reach -10.  Third-round leader Karen Stupples started out well also with birdies at 3 and 4 but immediately gave those strokes back with bogeys at 5 and 6, creating a tie for the lead.  Playing three groups ahead, Helen took sole possession of first with a birdie at 10.  Karen's wheels came off early on the back nine - bogeys at 11 and 12 dropped her four shots behind when coupled with Alfredsson's birdie at 14.  Meanwhile Diaz birdied 11 and 12 to reach -11, only one behind Helen, and Tseng had climbed to -9 with birdies at 10 and 13.  Yani couldn't make up any more ground when she parred out.  For the second straight day, Laura collapsed coming in - bogeys at 14, 15 and 17 ended her hopes with a thud.  Stupples got back to -9 with a birdie at 13 but she too went the wrong way with bogeys at 16 and 18.  By that time, Alfredsson was sitting in the clubhouse at -12 and presumably already celebrating.

Playing with Stupples and Diaz in the final group was one of my faves Louise Friberg, who never got it going and faltered to a birdie-less 77.  Shi Hyun Ahn was at -6, tied for fourth and scheduled in the next-to-last group but she withdrew for reasons unannounced as yet.  Shanshan Feng came through for her fans on Sunday with a 68 to claim sixth place.  Local pro Hong Mei Yang also posted a 68 to finish tied for 17^th with among others, Annika Sorenstam.