Kenny Perry wins Memorial for third time

DUBLIN, Ohio - Kenny Perry joined Tiger Woods as the only three-time winners of the Memorial yesterday, taking a big step toward joining the No. 1 player in the world on the Ryder Cup team this fall.

With every contender in full retreat on the back nine, the 47-year-old Perry surged ahead with pars and one timely birdie, coasting home to a 3-under 69 and a 2-shot victory that could not have come at a better time.

He became the oldest winner at the tournament Jack Nicklaus built at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Perry's victory was his answer to U.S. captain Paul Azinger's statement last week that anyone making his Ryder Cup team would almost certainly have to win on tour this year.

Perry, who squandered two chances in the previous three weeks, delivered his best golf of the year.

He finished at an 8-under-par 280, the highest winning score at the Memorial in 23 years. Perry earned $1.08 million for his 10th career victory, which translates to 1,080 points toward the Ryder Cup, moving him up to No. 5 in the standings. The Ryder Cup will be held at Valhalla in his native Kentucky.

"You're going to get there," Nicklaus reassured Perry.

Third-round leader Mathew Goggin lost his 3-shot advantage in three holes and stumbled home to a 74, tied for second with Mike Weir, Justin Rose and Jerry Kelly, all of whom closed with a 71.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Seon Hwa Lee didn't expect she'd be accepting the Ginn Tribute trophy from tournament host Annika Sorenstam yesterday.

Few others did, either.

Lee, though, took advantage of a stunning collapse by Sophie Gustafson, and watched Hall of Famer Karrie Webb miss a short par putt in the tournament's playoff. The result was Lee's third LPGA Tour title and one of the richest paydays, $390,000, in women's golf.

"There's lots of luck," said Lee, 9 strokes behind when her round began.

The comeback was the second-largest one in LPGA Tour history, surpassed only by 10-stroke rallies from all-time greats Mickey Wright in 1964 and Sorenstam in 2001.

Lee shot a 67 to finish at 14-under 274. In the playoff at No. 18, Lee two-putted for par from about 45 feet before Webb's crucial error.

Song-Hee Kim (69) was third at 13-under, followed by Gustafson and Jane Park (72) an additional 2 shots behind.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - The Americans won the U.S. Golf Association's Curtis Cup for the sixth straight time.

Stacy Lewis, the former NCAA champion from Arkansas, became the first player in the 76-year history of the matches to go 5-0. Her final victory came against Elizabeth Bennett, 3 and 2, gaining the clinching point the Americans needed to beat Britain and Ireland.

Alison Walshe also was undefeated in the three matches she played, winning the last point on the 18th hole for a 13-7 victory. Haddonfield's Meghan Bolger lost her match to Florentyna Parker, 6 and 4.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - Jay Haas shot a 6-under 65 to repeat as champion of the Principal Charity Classic at Glen Oaks Country Club and move into first place ahead of Bernhard Langer on the Champions Tour money list.

Haas shot 4-under on the back nine and finished at 10-under 203 total, 1 shot ahead of Andy Bean.

MUNICH, Germany - South Korean teenager Amy Yang shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 21-under 267 and win the Ladies German Open by 4 strokes over Sweden's Louise Stahle at Golfpark Gut Hausern Course on the Ladies European Tour.

NEWPORT, Wales - Australian Scott Strange got his first European Tour victory by leading the Wales Open from start to finish. He shot a 7-under 64 to win by four strokes over Sweden's Robert Karlsson at 22-under 262 at Celtic Manor Resort.