Mobile, AL–Stacey Lewis was covering new ground when she began the final round of the Mobile Bay Classic with a two shot lead. In her only win on the LPGA Tour Lewis had come from behind on the final day for a win.
As it turns out she did just fine with the lead.
Lewis opened her fourth round strong dropping in a long uphill birdie putt on number one from the back edge of the green. She followed with a six-foot birdie on number two for a three shot lead.
Lewis had a two-shot lead on 15 but after a tee shot into the woods she needed to hole out from just off the green to save par. Her par attempt came up a foot short. Ahead on the par five 16th Lexi Thompson dropped in a short birdie putt to pull into a tie with Lewis at -16.
It didn’t stay that way for long. Lewis was just off the front left of the green on 16 in two shots. She lifted a long uphill chip shot to within a foot and a half and tapped in for birdie to re-take the lead.
Thompson parred out and Lewis was able to claim her second tour win with a tap-in on 18 to finish at -17 a shot ahead of Thompson.
I’m getting more comfortable in this situation,” Lewis said afterward. “I think that’s a lot of it, and it’s definitely been coming. I lost in a playoff in Australia, so I knew I was due.”
The former Razorback collected $187,500 for the win.
“It was just a really stressful day,” Lewis added while referring to the challenge of holding the lead. “I’m glad I didn’t have to play in a playoff, because I was exhausted. It was just total relief.”
