Classy, if not classic, finish in LPGA

            Gladstone, N.J.--This is not the way Angela Stanford would have wanted to go out, but it was the way every golfer could hope to go out of a match play tournament (at least one that they didn’t win).

            It was a rough ending for Angela Stanford in her semifinal against Cristie Kerr at the LPGA Sybase Match Play Championship. Stanford, the runnerup at this event last year, looked like she was cruising to another place in the final at Hamilton Farm Golf Club. She was 2 up with four to play. Then she lost No. 15 to a birdie from Kerr.

            On the par-4 17, Kerr, down 1 and staring at elimination, put her second shot within four feet. Stanford also hit the green, but missed her 12-foot birdie putt. Kerr made hers and they went to the par-5 18^th all square.

            Each was in good position after two shots. Kerr hit a solid third, with the ball landing near the pin, but it rolled off a ridge and trickled into the rough. Stanford, evidently not wanting that to happen to her, kept her short-iron third shot above the pin—and in the rough over the green.

            Kerr chipped within four feet again. Stanford, with a poor lie, skulled it over the green into more rough. She chipped up and nearly sank her shot for a 5. The ball hit the flagstick and bounced away. Kerr made her par putt, and pumped her fist as she clinched the win.