LPGA : After Lopez Misses Her Chance, Jones Makes a Birdie and Wins

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —  Rosie Jones made a seven-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Monday to beat Nancy Lopez by one stroke in the $200,000 Rail Charity golf tournament, her first LPGA victory since joining the tour in 1982.

Lopez had a chance at birdie on the 54th hole of the tournament but missed an eight-footer and Jones made hers for the victory, worth $30,000.

Jones, who held a one-stroke lead entering the final round, shot a two-under-par 70 for a total of eight-under-par 208.

Lopez, the most recent inductee into the LPGA’s Hall of Fame, also shot a 70 in the final round.

Jones, 27, parred the first five holes, then birdied No. 6 for a two-stroke lead, which she held until the 15th hole.

Lopez, birdied the par-5 13th and the par-3 16th to tie Jones. Both players parred No. 17 on the 6,403-yard Rail Golf Club course and reached the par-4 18th in regulation, setting the stage for Jones’ putt.

Jones’ previous best finishes were ties for second at the 1984 U.S. Women’s Open and the 1984 Rochester Invitational.

She increased her earnings total $172,808, which puts her No. 8 on the money list. Jones is one of only three players to have finished in the top 10 in all four major championships this season.

Betsy King, the two-time defending champion and the LPGA’s money leader this year at $425,175, tied Shirley Furlong for second place at 210. King, who made four consecutive birdies on the back nine, had a final-round 66, Furlong a 67.

Nancy Ledbetter was at 212.