Webb snatches victory

Webb produced a stunning comeback to clinch the win

Karrie Webb produced a thrilling fightback to win the Rochester International by one shot from South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim.

The Australian was five shot behind after the third round, and still trailed by three with only three holes to play on Sunday.

But she clawed back the deficit as Kim faltered and finally secured victory when the young Korean bogeyed the final hole.

"Obviously, I was not really expecting this, but it is great," Webb said.

"I've been struggling for most of this year. I have played well early and struggled a little bit when I've needed to play good, but not today."

Webb finished with a four-under-par 68 and a 12-under 276 total and claim first prize of $180,000 to push her career earnings past $8m.

The victory was Webb's first of the season and the 27th in her six years on tour - and possibly the most dramatic.

After Kim drove into the rough at the pivotal 16th hole, her second shot landed in the high grass in front of the green and she had to settle for bogey.

Webb, on the green in two, took advantage by making a birdie to pull within a shot of the lead.

Pressure

The gusting wind cost Kim another stroke at the par-five 17th when it caught her second shot. The ball landed in the high rough in front of the green.

She hit the stick with her chip but two-putted for par, and Webb tied it with another birdie putt after chipping to 10 feet.

At the par-four 18th, Kim's second shot again was just short of the green as the winds continued to whip the course, and she chipped 8 feet past the pin.

Webb, on the green about 30 feet to the right of the hole, rolled her putt about four feet short.

Then, instead of marking her ball, Webb took the option to putt out and put the pressure on Kim.

The strategy worked when Kim's try for par rolled inches past the hole.

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Leading final scores

276 Karrie Webb (Aus) 64 72 72 68
277 Mi Hyun Kim (Kor) 69 67 67 74
281 Se Ri Pak (Kor) 72 72 67 70
284 Kristal Parker-Manzo 68 75 72 69, Juli Inkster 71 72 67 74
285 Beth Daniel 70 68 74 73, Jennifer Rosales 74 75 68 68, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 71 70 72
286 Rachel Teske (Aus) 70 72 72 72
287 Gloria Park (Kor) 69 71 72 75, Danielle Ammaccapane 73 70 73 71, Meg Mallon 67 73 75 72, Joanne Morley (Gbr) 68 74 74 71
288 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 73 68 75
289 Rosie Jones 73 71 72 73, Chris Johnson 70 74 75 70, Dawn Coe-Jones (Can) 72 73 73 71
290 Candie Kung 73 72 71 74, Fiona Pike (Aus) 70 71 76 73, Nanci Bowen 73 74 70 73