Sorenstam surges to title

Sorenstam is all smiles as she receives the trophy

 Final scoreboard

Swedish star Annika Sorenstam won her third LPGA Tour title of the season after pipping former champion Pat Hurst to the Aerus Electrolux USA Championship by one stroke.

Sorenstam and Hurst blitzed the back nine at the Legends Club of Tennessee in Franklin, trading the lead until the final hole.

Playing in the penultimate group, Sorenstam birdied the 18th to finish on 17-under-par.

Hurst then needed a birdie to win the tournament for the second time in three years, or a par to force a play-off.

Hurst lost her chance of victory on the final hole

But her chip from a ridge below the green ran well past the hole and she missed the return putt for par, giving Sorenstam her 16th win in the last three years.

Trailing 19-year-old Natalie Gulbis by two shots after the third round, Sorenstam tied the course record with a bogey-free, eight-under-par 64.

Her four-round total was three strokes better than the tournament mark set a year ago by Juli Inkster.

Hurst matched Sorenstam shot for shot until the 72nd hole and recorded a 66.

The runner-up finish was her best since winning this event two years ago.

Korea's Grace Park was three strokes back after a 67, while Donna Andrews fired a 65 to finish on 13-under.

Seeking the first win of her brief career, Gulbis quickly dropped out of contention with two double-bogeys and a bogey in her first six holes.

The former University of Arizona star had three more bogeys on the back nine but closed with a birdie for a 74 and sole possession of eighth place.

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Final scoreboard: (US unless stated, *denotes amateur)

-17: Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 65 72 70 64
-16: Pat Hurst 70 69 67 66
-14: Grace Park (Kor) 69 71 67 67
-13: Donna Andrews 71 70 69 65
-12: Brandie Burton 67 69 70 70
-11: Hee-Won Han 70 71 69 67
-10: Betsy King 71 70 68 69
-9: *Natalie Gulbis 70 69 66 74
-8: Ashli Bunch 68 76 66 70, Danielle Ammaccapane 69 69 70 72