Longs Drugs Challenge: History

Longs Drugs Challenge Returns
October 9 through 12, 2008
Danville, California • Blackhawk CC

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1996 Champion Kelly Robbins	1996 Robbins Wins Inaugural Longs Drugs Challenge in Playoff Raycom Sports LINCOLN, Calif. -- Kelly Robbins sank a 20-foot putt to birdie the fifth playoff hole against Val Skinner today to win the inaugural $500,000 Twelve Bridges LPGA Classic. Robbins fired a final-round 64 and Skinner carded a 6-under-par 65 to force the playoff, which started on the 18th hole and alternated with the first hole, both of which are par-4s. The pair finished at 11-under 273. They parred the first two extra holes and each bogeyed the third before another par on the fourth. Robbins holed her 20-footer and Skinner missed a chance to tie with a putt from the fringe, allowing Robbins to grab the $75,000 first prize. Robbins finished second to Patty Sheehan in last week's Nabisco Dinah Shore. Today's win was her first of the season and the fourth of her career. Her 64 today matched Amy Fruwirth's course record round from earlier in the day. "I had a hot putter going today -- they say that's what it takes," Robbins said. "I didn't make many mistakes and was surprised somebody came out of the pack. I thought it would take 6 or 7-under to win today. I didn't realize what Val was doing ... looked at the board briefly at number 17 and number 18." Robbins birdied the first, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth holes on the front nine and added birdies on the 12th and 14th before her first miscue, a bogey on 15. She birdied the 16th and finished with pars on the final two holes before the playoff. "You have to fire at the pins and get the ball in good position off the tee," Robbins said of her playoff strategy. "I was not as anxiety ridden as playing in the round. I was just trying to stick to my game plan." Skinner had birdies on the second, fifth and seventh holes on the front nine and exploded on the back for four straight birdies between the 12th and 15th holes. Skinner could have kept the lead, but two-putted for a bogey on the 17th. She also missed a seven-foot putt on the fourth playoff hole that could have clinched the tournament. "I felt I played good enough to win but didn't," Skinner said. "I had a stretch of four birdies -- I will relish that ... dream thing to do on a Sunday round. "The playoff is a different mindset. I had chances to close it out today. First of all, it's a mindset thing ... go at more pins, do things things you might not do. The number one green could be the hardest green I've ever played in my life." Barb Mucha, Meg Mallon and Emilee Klein each finished in a tie for third at 7-under 277. Robin Walton, Donna Andrews, Cindy Schreyer and Annika Sorenstam were deadlocked in sixth place at 6-under 278. Sorenstam, the 1995 LPGA PLayer of the Year, shot a 66 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds.

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	© 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge. All Rights Reserved Copyright © Photos by Danny Salz & Dina Wong - EM&PS, Frank Kay, Getty Images	2007 Champion Suzann Pettersen