Darkness halts Hataoka-Lopez duel for LPGA Tournament of Champions title

Nasa Hataoka and Gaby Lopez remained locked in battle for the LPGA Tournament of Champions as darkness halted the playoff after five holes.

South Korean superstar Park In-bee, seeking a 20th career title, was eliminated at the third playoff hole when her tee shot at the difficult par-three 18th at Four Seasons Orlando bounced near the cup and into the water on Sunday.

Unable to do better than bogey she bowed out as both Hataoka and Lopez made par -- part of a run of five straight pars for each in the sudden-death decider, all at 18.

Mexico's Lopez capped her final round with the only birdie of the weekend at 18, the last of five birdies in her five-under 66 for 13-under 271.

Japan's Hataoka was the first in the clubhouse on 13-under, firing four birdies and one bogey in her three-under par 68.

Park had started the day with a two-shot lead, but that evaporated with bogeys at the second and third and two more birdies the rest of the way weren't enough. Park remains in search of her first victory since the Founders Cup in Phoenix, Arizona in March of 2018.

"Eighteen got me yesterday and today," said Park, who bogeyed the hole on Friday.

"Today's round itself was a little bit disappointing," she added. "I didn't hit many shots close or make a lot of putts."
- 'a different experience' -
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