Stanford wins HSBC Women's Champions

• By Associated Press
• Feb 26, 2012 7:00 AM ET

SINGAPORE – Angela Stanford of the United States captured her fifth career victory on the third playoff hole at the $1.4 million HSBC Women’s Champions on Sunday.

Stanford made a par on the last playoff hole, beating South Korea’s Jenny Shin into joint second with China’s Shanshan Feng and Na Yeon Choi of South Korea. Feng was eliminated at the first playoff hole, Choi at the second at Tanah Merah Country Club.

Stanford, a 34-year-old Texan who hadn’t won since 2009, said it was an emotional victory.

“It’s a big deal,” Stanford said as she began to cry. “I’m just thinking about home and everybody there.”

Stanford trailed Shin by a shot after the 17th when play was suspended for about 90 minutes because of lightning. When play resumed, Shin hit her tee shot out of bounds, leading to a double bogey. Stanford made a bogey on 18 to fall into the four-way joint lead at 10-under 278.

“I felt for her (Shin) because we’ve all been in that position,” said Stanford, who shot a 1-under 71 in the final round. “I didn’t think I’d be there at the end. I was all over the map today.”

Top-ranked Yani Tseng began the third round at 1 under but a 5-under 67 on Saturday and a 4-under 32 on the first nine holes Sunday put her in a brief tie for the lead with Shin. A disastrous double bogey on 10 and another bogey on 14 pushed her back down the leaderboard and she finished fifth, one shot behind the leaders after 72 holes.

Stanford started the day tied for the lead with Shin and Katie Futcher, who faltered Sunday with five bogeys for a 4-over 76 and finished tied for 11th.