GOLD COAST, Australia, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Annika Sorenstam opened her European Tour season in style Sunday, winning in Australia for her third ANZ Ladies' Masters title.
Sorenstam took the title with a 19-under par total after shooting consecutive 65s over the weekend. She finished well ahead of England's Karen Stupples, who placed second at 15-under, with Australian Kylie Pratt third at 11-under.
Sorenstam began the final round just one shot ahead of Stupples, but she had four birdies and an eagle in a outward half of 31.
"This is the perfect way to start the year," said the 33-year-old Swede, who has been No. 1 in the women's game for the past three years. "I made a fast start today and this is a very sweet win."
"Karen played some great golf, but I got the momentum going over the front nine. I knew then that everyone else would start pushing and I just knew I had to keep grinding out the pars."
