Joan Pitcock had a cushion and a tap-in. She knew what to do with both.
A nine-year tour veteran, Pitcock finished with a 1-under-par 70, closing out her round with five straight pars Sunday to capture her first LPGA victory by one stroke over Marianne Morris."I thought I would break down and cry when I won," Pitcock said after capturing the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic with a 9-under-par 204. "I didn't want to be somebody who didn't win. Nobody wants that."
With a tap-in on the final hole for the win, Pitcock collected $86,250, the use of a van for a year and a Rolex watch as a first-time winner. Her previous best finish was a tie for second in her rookie year.
"I was very nervous starting out (Sunday)," Pitcock said. "Being nervous is the strongest emotion I've ever felt on the golf course.
"But I knew I had a little bit of a cushion, and that's what it's for. I had the luxury of having the lead."
She started the day with a three-stroke lead, but took a bogey on the first hole. She got that stroke back with a birdie on the par-4, 366-yard fourth hole.
Morris birdied three of the final four holes on the front nine to move into contention.
"Going into the back nine, I felt pretty good," she said.
Morris took the lead with an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-4, 385-yard 11th hole.
Pitcock tied Morris with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole and regained the lead when Morris three-putted for bogey on No. 16, a 390-yard par 4.
"I was trying as hard as I could. I was just one shot short," Morris said. "I stayed aggressive all day."