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Matthew Wins Hawaiian Open by Three

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From Associated Press

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew completed a wire-to-wire victory in the Hawaiian Ladies Open Saturday, shooting a par 72 for a three-stroke victory over Annika Sorenstam.

Matthew, who earned $112,500 for her first LPGA Tour victory, had a six-under 210 total on the wind-swept Kapolei Golf Course.

Matthew, tied with Nancy Scranton at five under after 10 holes, pulled ahead with an eagle on No. 11. Scranton shot a 74 and tied for third at 214.

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Sorenstam closed with a 70 for her second runner-up finish in two starts this year. The Swedish star finished two strokes behind Canada’s Lorie Kane last week in the Takefuji Classic.

Australian star Karrie Webb had her fourth top-10 finish in four events, closing with a 70 to tie for ninth at even-par 216.

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Hale Irwin shot a five-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Jack Nicklaus and five others after the second round of the Verizon Classic at Tampa, Fla.

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Irwin made a 30-foot birdie on the 18th hole.

“I feel like my game is not particularly sharp,” said Irwin, playing his first full-field event of the year. “What’s carrying the day is being fresh.”

He had four birdies on the back nine to finish with an eight-under 136 total on the TPC of Tampa Bay.

“The thing is the course played nicely,” Irwin said. “If you’re playing well, I think the course is there for the taking. If you’re not playing well, it’s not giving many breaks.”

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Nicklaus, who shared the first-round lead with Doug Tewell after a 67, shot a 71 to join defending champion Bruce Fleisher (69), Gil Morgan (67), Bob Gilder (68), Jose Maria Canizares (68) and Bobby Walzel (68) at 138.

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