Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 14, 1993                   TAG: 9306140233
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BETHESDA, MD.                                LENGTH: Medium

SHEEHAN WINS LPGA FOR 3RD TIME

That's 30s, as in victories.

On Sunday, she won the LPGA Championship a third time, scrambling for par on the 18th hole to close a 2-under-par 69 that gave her a one-stroke victory over Lauri Merten.

Sheehan, who in March secured a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame, has won 31 times on the tour. She insists she's not through.

"Look at the problems Pat [Bradley] is having," Sheehan said. "She won 30 and hasn't really done much since. I think she lost her motivation.

"I didn't want that to happen to me. I didn't want to become complacent. I don't want to roll over and die. I don't want to stop, and I don't want to stop trying."

Sheehan won her fourth major title - and the $150,000 first prize - with a three-foot putt on No. 18. To get there, however, she had to recover from a tee shot that sailed into the gallery and an approach that landed well behind the green.

With a sprinkler hole directly in front of her ball, Sheehan chipped her third shot to three feet from the hole. She dropped the putt into the heart of the cup, then thrust her arms skyward.

"I was very nervous," she said. "My hands were shaking pretty good."

Sheehan, 36, of Reno, Nev., started the day two shots off the lead. She quickly moved in front as third-round leader Jenny Lidback got off to a horrid start en route to a 78. Sheehan made three birdies and a bogey to finish at 9-under 275.

Merten shot a 67 en route to a 276 total. Her 31 on the front nine tied a record on the Bethesda Country Club Course, but a bogey on No. 13, her first since the fifth hole Saturday, cost her a shot at a playoff.

"I sort of knew Patty would par that last hole," Merten said. "She's too good a player not to."

Merten moved into contention with five birdies on the first 12 holes, but she opened the way for Sheehan by missing a four-foot par putt on No. 13 to go 8-under. Minutes later, Sheehan sank a 15-foot birdie putt on 12 to take a two-stroke lead.

Sheehan fell back with a bogey on No. 16, but parred No. 17 to set the stage for the dramatic finish.

The victory was Sheehan's second of the season. The first, at the Standard Register Ping, got her into the Hall of Fame. Her previous major titles were the LPGA Championship in 1983 and 1984 and the 1992 U.S. Women's Open.

Barb Bunkowsky finished at 277. Betsy King, who won the tournament at 17-under last year, was among four players at 5-under 279.

Michelle McGann, who registered successive eagles on Nos. 12 and 13 to go to 7 under, bogeyed two of the final four holes to join the crowd at 279.

Keywords:
GOLF