GOFFSTOWN, N.H. (AP) — Sadena Parks won for her second Symetra Tour title in three weeks, beating Jackie Stoelting on the second hole of a playoff Sunday in the New England Charity Classic.
Parks, the 24-year-old former University of Washington player from Tacoma, won the SEFCU Championship two weeks ago in Albany, New York, to become the second black winner in Symetra Tour history. LaRee Sugg was the first black champion on the developmental tour, winning in 1998 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
“This second win just shows how much I’ve improved over the year,” Parks said. “It not only means a lot to me, but I know it means a lot to my fans, supporters and my team.”
Parks earned $15,000 to jump from sixth to third on the money list with $51,615. The top 10 after the final four events will earn 2015 LPGA Tour cards.
“I don’t want to say that I have my LPGA Tour card yet, but it’s looking pretty good right now,” Parks said. “Ever since I was 9 years old, the LPGA Tour was my goal and it has been a long journey and now I am almost there.”
Parks won with a par on the second extra hole — the par-4 17th at Stonebridge — after both players opened the playoff with birdies on the par-5 18th.
Parks closed with a 5-under 67 to match Stoelting at 8-under 208. Both players played the back nine in 5-under 31, with Parks birdieing the final two holes in regulation and Stoelting birdieing No. 18 for a 66.
Parks forced the playoff with her birdie on No. 18.
“I hit my drive right into the bunker and didn’t think I had a shot into the green,” Parks said. “I knew if I hit a punch 4-iron fade I could get it out and leave myself a little short. It happened to roll on the green, which was awesome. I left my third putt a little short.”
She then made an 8-foot putt.
“I drained the putt. It was clutch,” Park said. “I think I threw a strong fist pump in there somewhere.”
The 28-year-old Stoelting, from Vero Beach, Florida, earned $9,007 to move from seventh to sixth on the money list at $44,787.
Lacey Agnew and Lindy Duncan tied for third, a stroke back. Agnew shot 67, and Duncan had a 68.
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