Santa Barbara Open : Stephenson Shoots a 73 to Beat Okamoto

SANTA BARBARA — Jan Stephenson moved ahead to stay when Ayako Okamoto double-bogeyed the 11th hole, then held off the Japanese star Sunday to post a one-stroke triumph in the $300,000 Santa Barbara Open.

In snapping a two-year victory drought on the LPGA Tour, Stephenson shot a 1-over-par 73 to finish the inaugural 54-hole tournament at 1-under 215. Stephenson, the only player to break par, won $45,000.

Stephenson, 35, trailed playing partner Okamoto by three shots with 10 holes to play, but gained four strokes on No. 9, 10 and 11 by striking for two birdies and a par.

Okamoto’s slip on the 175-yard, par-3 11th broke her string of 34 straight holes of par or better. She finished with a 75 and a 216 total in failing to win her second event in as many weeks.

Jane Geddes, with a final-round 68, shared second place with Okamoto at 216. Beth Daniel bogied No. 18 to finish with a 74 and a 217 total with Shelley Hamlin and Laura Hurlbut.

After driving over the 11th green, Okamoto missed a chip shot and needed another plus two putts to find the hole. Stephenson got par to remain at 3-under, with Okamoto one stroke back and Alice Ritzman, also in the final threesome, two shots off the pace.

Stephenson bogeyed the par-5, 440-yard 14th to fall to 2-under, her advantage shaved to one stroke over Okamoto, who parred. Ritzman double-bogeyed, then bogeyed to slip out of contention.

After all three players bogeyed the 17th, Okamoto’s try on the 18th for birdie and a tie was wide from about 35 feet. Stephenson then two-putted from 40 feet--knocking in a final three-footer--for her first triumph since the 1985 Glendale Open.

Except for a slight breeze, conditions were ideal at the par-72, 6,311-yard Sandpiper Golf Course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Patty Sheehan, who appeared at the first tee wearing rabbit ears in celebration of Easter, started the round 2-under-par and birdied No. 2. However, she followed with a double-bogey and two bogeys and was no longer a factor, shooting a front-nine 42.