Laurie Rinker Captures Rain-Shortened Legends Championship at French Lick Resort

FRENCH LICK, Ind., Aug. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The final round of the LPGA Legends Championship was impacted by weather for the second straight year Sunday, and this time it prevented a ball from being struck.

Anticipating weather problems, Legends officials scheduled a 7:30 a.m. start of play off both the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, but a night of rain left the course too wet for play to begin on Sunday morning. Consideration was given to starting play five hours later, perhaps in a shotgun format, but the rain became stronger and fog made visibility very difficult making the decision to shorten the tournament to 36 holes.

That meant that Laurie Rinker, the leader after Saturday's second round, was declared the champion and the winner of the $60,000 first-place check. She accepted the trophy to a standing ovation in the Dye Course pavilion and had words of wisdom for her brother Lee, a golf professional who will be playing in the Senior PGA Championship on the course next May.

"I texted my brother a picture of the trophy because he'll be here next year,'' said Rinker. "Maybe I can give him a tip or two.''

Rinker, from Stuart, Fla., was joint runner-up in the first LPGA Legends Championship when Canadian Lorie Kane won the title. Kane had a two-stroke margin after the final round of 2013 was played in cold, rainy weather. She finished in a tie for 17^th in her title defense after rounds of 75 and 73.

Rinker, who shot 66 in the second round, posted a winning total of 7-under-par 137. It was her third win on the Legends circuit, the others coming in the BJ Charities Pro-Am in 2012 and the Legends Tour Open in 2013.

Sherri Steinhauer was within one stroke of Rinker after 36 holes thanks to a blistering 9-under-par 63 on Saturday. Steinhauer's round is believed to be the lowest in the Legends' 14-year history, two better than the 65 Kane shot in the Wendy's Charity Challenge in 2011. The tourney purse was $500,000, the highest on the Legends Tour.

www.frenchlick.com

For final tournament results, please click on the link below:
http://leaderboard.thelegendstour.com/?TID=57

Media can access photos and video highlights of Laurie Rinker on the FTP site below:
https://sharedfiles.blueskyindiana.com/data/public/2f0aef.php

SOURCE French Lick Resort