Victory puts Lewis No. 1 in world

Toledo native wins Founders Cup

Stacy Lewis, a Toledo native, gets a hug from her father, Dale Lewis, after winning the LPGA Founders Cup. Dale is a Whitmer graduate.

PHOENIX — Stacy Lewis won the LPGA Founders Cup on Sunday to jump to No. 1 in the world, taking advantage of Ai Miyazato’s collapse on the 16th hole.

A day after Lewis was penalized two strokes for her caddie’s blunder on the short par 4, the American took a two-stroke lead with a birdie on the hole after Miyazato made a double bogey following an errant approach shot that left her with an unplayable lie in a desert bush.

Coming off a victory two weeks ago in Singapore, the 28-year-old Lewis won for the seventh time in her LPGA Tour career to end Yani Tseng's 109-week run at No. 1.

Lewis is a Toledo native, but moved away when she was 2.

Lewis closed with an 8-under 64 in perfect conditions at Desert Ridge to finish with a tournament-record 23-under 265 total on the cactus-lined Wildfire layout.

Miyazato finished second, three strokes back after a 71.

The Japanese star took a four-stroke lead over Lewis and Jee Young Lee into the final round when Lewis was penalized after play Saturday when it was ruled that caddie Travis Wilson tested the sand before Lewis played out of a bunker on No. 16.

Forced to wear a back brace for six years as a teen because of scoliosis, Lewis is the second American to top the ranking that began in 2006. Cristie Kerr was No. 1 for five weeks over three stints in 2010.

Miyazato was playing for the first time since sustaining a whiplash injury in a five-vehicle crash in Bangkok after the LPGA Thailand. She withdrew the next week in Singapore as a precaution because of stiffness in her neck, shoulder, and back. 

Streelman gets 1st PGA win

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Kevin Streelman finally won on the PGA Tour with a game that looked as if he had done this many times before.

Streelman didn’t make a bogey over the final 37 holes on the tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook. He didn’t miss a shot over the last 11 holes on his way to a 4-under 67 for a two-shot win in the Tampa Bay Championship.

Boo Weekley, who teed off three hours before the leaders, had a tournament-best 63 and waited to see if that would be enough. He finished second.

Streelman, locked in a battle with Justin Leonard over the final hour, came up with one clutch shot after another. He hit 5-iron into 6 feet on the par-3 13th hole, the toughest at Innisbrook in the final round, to take the lead for good.

“Probably the best shot of my life in that situation,” Streelman said.

He locked up the win with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th and he was all smiles. Until Sunday, the biggest tournament Streelman won might have been the club championship at Whisper Rock.

He won in his 153rd start on the PGA Tour, and it sends him to the Masters next month for the second time in his career. He finished at 10-under 274.