Ladies’ day at Wendy’s
Natalie Gulbis got to play the role of happy hostess Tuesday at Reflection Bay Golf Club.
The LPGA Tour player and Lake Las Vegas resident used her home-course advantage to the fullest, teaming with Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel to win the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge in a one-hole playoff over the Champions threesome of Nick Price, Jay Haas and Fred Funk.
"It was an incredible day. Great weather. The fans were tremendous," said Gulbis, who shot 1-under-par 71 and split $400,000 with Pressel and Kerr.
Gulbis came home after finishing third at the Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala. She had a large gallery following her all day.
"It’s nice to finish the year strong," she said.
Gulbis played the back nine in 2 under, as did Kerr, after Pressel carried the team on the front with a 4-under 32. Kerr was chosen to represent the women in the sudden-death playoff while Funk played for the seniors.
Funk appeared in great shape after putting his second shot within 7 feet on the par-4, 430-yard 18th hole. But Kerr, sixth this year in LPGA Tour earnings with $1,079,671, responded by putting her second shot within 5 feet.
"I knew when it left my club it was close," she said. "I wanted another chance because my last shot (at No. 18) was from the same spot and I pulled it."
It became a putting contest; Funk missed and Kerr sank her attempt to give the LPGA its fourth Wendy’s victory and first since 2004.
The made-for-TV event will air Dec. 22 and 23 on ABC.
Pressel started fast, hitting great approach shots and making putts to record birdies on three of her first five holes. She wasn’t able to maintain her hot pace on the back nine, but Gulbis and Kerr picked her up.
"It’s pretty simple: The putts I made on the front weren’t dropping for me on the back," Pressel said. "But Natalie and Cristie were great, and it was definitely a team effort."
PGA Tour player Bubba Watson couldn’t say the same. He posted the day’s best score, 8-under 64, while relying on big, booming drives and a precise short game. But he was unable to make up for struggling teammates Camilo Villegas (1 over) and Chris DiMarco (2 over).
"My back’s hurting from trying to carry those guys," Watson said kiddingly. "No, it was great out there for me. The conditions were perfect, and the course sets up nicely for someone like me, especially when I’m driving the ball well like I did today."
The 16th annual event raised $3.9 million for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a non-profit charity created by the Wendy’s founder to facilitate adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North American foster care systems.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.
