Originally published March 13, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 13, 2007 at 2:00 AM

Golf | Francella outlasts Sorenstam

Even Meaghan Francella found it hard to believe: She beat superstar Annika Sorenstam in a playoff for her first LPGA Tour victory. "Words can't describe how...

By The Associated Press

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Meaghan Francella won in her sixth Tour start.

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HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico — Even Meaghan Francella found it hard to believe: She beat superstar Annika Sorenstam in a playoff for her first LPGA Tour victory.

"Words can't describe how I feel right now," the 24-year-old New Yorker said Monday after winning the rain-delayed MasterCard Classic in her sixth LPGA Tour start.

"Annika is the best player in the world. I was a little intimidated, but I just tried to stay patient. I didn't want her to intimidate me. I just tried to stay focused. ... I was like, 'Am I really doing this?' I felt like I was dreaming."

The former University of North Carolina standout won with a 4-foot birdie putt on the fourth extra hole. She closed with a 3-under-par 69 to match Sorenstam (66) at 11-under 205 on the Bosque Real course.

Francella earned $180,000. Sorenstam settled for $109,852.

Jimin Kang (69), a graduate of King's High School in Shoreline, tied for 12th place at 4 under and earned $19,767.

Francella made the winning putt on the par-5 18th — the only hole used in the playoff — after Sorenstam missed a 7-foot birdie try.

"I didn't expect Annika to miss that putt," Francella said. "I just tried to stay in my moment and make the putt. It was just left-center. ... I had nothing to lose out there today. ... Nobody knew who I was before this week, except the people back home."

Allin dies at 62

Brian "Buddy" Allin, who was born in Bremerton and won five times on the PGA Tour, died Saturday of cancer in Hemet, Calif. He was 62.

Allin, a Vietnam War veteran, said he found his greatest joy as a golf instructor. His last PGA Tour victory was in 1976.

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