Sorenstam Wins 7th Title of Year

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Annika Sorenstam won her seventh LPGA Tour title of the year and ninth worldwide event Sunday, closing with a 5-under 65 for a four-stroke victory in the Williams Championship.

Sunday, September 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Annika Sorenstam won her seventh LPGA Tour title of the year and ninth worldwide event Sunday, closing with a 5-under 65 for a four-stroke victory in the Williams Championship.

``This is shaping up to be my best season probably,'' said Sorenstam, the Swedish star who won eight tour titles last year and has 39 victories in nine seasons.

Using a new cross-handed putting grip, Sorenstam birdied four of the last six holes to easily hold off Canadian Lorie Kane with an 11-under 199 total on the Tulsa Country Club course.

``I'm thrilled with the way I played today,'' said Sorenstam, playing her first event since winning the Compaq Open in Sweden on Aug. 18. ``I made a few mistakes but I bounced back quickly.''

Sorenstam earned $150,000 to push her season total to $2,061,991 in 16 events. She set the LPGA Tour record last year with $2,105,868, becoming the first player in tour history to top $2 million.

Kane, playing in the final group with Sorenstam, closed with a 68 to finish second. The Canadian birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to move within two strokes with two holes remaining.

Both players hit tee shots on the par-3 17th within 7 feet of the cup. Kane's putt slid just right, while Sorenstam made her birdie putt. She pumped her fist and smiled.

``She hit a great tee shot, but I hit a great shot myself,'' said Sorenstam, preparing for the Solheim Cup matches between Europe and the United States in two weeks in Minnesota.

``I knew if I make this I've got a three-shot lead. I felt really comfortable after making it.''

The Swede finished the round with a birdie on 18 after an approach shot to 7 feet. She nailed the putt, pumped her fist twice and flipped the ball into the gallery.

Kane had 16 pars in a bogey-free round.

``I still think I could have won if I put some pressure on Annika early on,'' Kane said, saying she blew birdie opportunities on the first two holes. ``But I'm happy with the way I finished.''

``Anytime you can play a final round on Sunday contending with the No. 1 player in the world, you're doing things right.''

U.S. Solheim Cup player Cristie Kerr (69) and Australia's Joanne Mills (67) tied for third at 6-under 204.

Mills birdied the first four holes to take the lead, but bogeyed No. 5 and played the final 13 holes in even par with two bogeys and two birdies.

Kerr took the lead on the fifth hole with her third straight birdie, but was 1 over the rest of the way with consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12 and birdie on the 16th.

Meg Mallon shot a 64, the best score of the final round, to match Beth Bauer (69) at 4-under 206.

``I was upset over shooting so poorly on the first day,'' said Mallon, who opened with a 74. ``It was just a lack of knowledge of this course.''