Stanford gets hot but not hot enough

8/13/2012

BY DONALD EMMONS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

Angela Stanford made a late charge on Sunday, firing a 66 to finish in second place.

Texas resident Angela Stanford started the final round of the 27th Jamie Farr Toledo Classic three shots behind four players tied for the lead.

Stanford shot a sizzling final round of 5-under par 66 -- matching her opening round effort -- to finish the tournament 13-under par 271 on Sunday at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Yet, her performance for the four-day tournament wasn't quite good enough to make her the latest Farr Classic champion. South Korea's So Yeon Ryu, who was one of the four who entered the final round tied for the lead, topped the field by finishing the tournament 20-under par 264 to win the LPGA event.

PHOTO GALLERY: Jamie Farr Toledo Classic

Ryu's final round effort of 9-under par 62, which included six consecutive birdies, ruined Stanford's hopes of coming away the winner.

"There's nothing you can do about it," said Stanford, who recorded six birdies and one bogey on the final day of play. "That's the thing about golf, you can't play defense on anybody. It's not like any other sport. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing."

Stanford's performance catapulted her past six others she trailed to start the day.

FEELING THE PRESSURE: Na Yeon Choi admitted her experience playing in the Farr Classic was different from when she came away as the 2010 Farr Classic champion.

"I think there was some pressure on me," Choi said. "I tried too hard to defend my title."

Choi didn't have a chance to defend her championship in 2011 since Farr officials opted to cancel the LPGA event for a year to work on holding the PGA's U.S. Senior Open last summer at Inverness Club.

Choi posted a final score of 5-under par 279 to finish tied for 21st.

Choi won in 2010 as virtually an unknown to most of the gallery.

On her return as the Farr Classic's defending champion, Choi had plenty of people following her on the course and waiting outside of the 18th hole seeking her autograph.

"I have to play my own game," Choi said. "I focused too much on the results."

WELCOME BACK: Toledo native Stacy Lewis could spot familiar faces in the gallery at Highland Meadows quite easily during the final round of the Farr Classic.

"They were in orange shirts," said Lewis, who estimated more than two dozen family members were on hand for her LPGA stop in her hometown.

Lewis, who lives in Texas, shot 8-under par 276 to finish tied for 11th. She shot 5-under par 66 on Sunday, which was her best round of the tournament.

"It's been crazy," she said. "I come back every year, and I play better and better.

"I wanted to give my family something to cheer for."

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Brooke Pancake received a sponsor's exemption to play in the Farr Classic.

The Tennessee native and former University of Alabama standout held her own playing in her first LPGA event.

She made the cut after rounds of 68 and 73 for a two-day score of 141 through 36 holes. She finished the four-day tournament with a four-day score of even-par 284.

"The goal is to play well and think you'll be in contention," said Pancake, whose round of 74 on Sunday was her worst round of the tournament.

"I've been playing well lately, so I figured that was the goal.

"Making the cut was just one step. Making it one-for-one with making the cut on the LPGA is good."

FARR HURTING: Jamie Farr, the namesake for the LPGA event, closed out the Farr Classic by handing over the tournament trophy and a check for $195,000 to So Yeon Ryu.

However, Farr's day ended a little uncomfortably after being stung by a bee while Ryu expressed her appreciation to the tournament sponsors and the fans who were still hanging around for the award presentation.

The Toledo native and actor appeared to be OK and left the course with his trademark smile.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302 or on Twitter @DemmonsBlade.