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Sudden deaths helpful to Pak

Se Ri Pak, right, hugs her caddy after winning the LPGA Bell Micro Classic golf tournament during sudden death in Mobile, Ala., Sunday, May 16, 2010. Thunderstorms delayed play causing a sudden death round between Pak, Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Pettersen for the win.

MOBILE, Ala. — Se Ri Pak is still hard to beat when it comes to sudden death.

With a nice bunker shot and a clutch birdie putt, the Hall of Famer from South Korea improved to 6-0 in playoffs and beat Brittany Lincicome on the third extra hole Sunday to win the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

"Mentally I feel more confidence," Pak said, trying to explain her playoff perfection. "Of course, either way you win or lose. Playoff always makes my shot even more solid. I don't know why. I just think maybe I like the way there's pressure or I just want to keep it as my own record."

The 10-foot putt sealed her 25th career win and first since she won the Owens Corning Classic in 2007. She set it up with a fairway bunker shot from about 170 yards while Lincicome saved par with a long downhill putt on their third time around on the par-4 18th in the playoff.

"I knew this day was going to come," Pak said. "All I could do is be patient and work hard."

The tournament was cut to 54 holes after rain washed out the fourth round.

The sodden course received about 4 inches of rain overnight and it was still drizzling throughout the playoff.

"I asked the rules official, 'How many times has somebody ever played the same hole before?"' Lincicome said. "She was like, 'Please, let's not go there."'

Suzann Pettersen also made the playoff, but dropped out with a bogey on the second hole and headed to the clubhouse at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Pak, Lincicome and Pettersen were tied at 13-under 203 when they teed off together in the morning. An hour into their round, the leaderboard had been shuffled and the threat of lightning sent the players scurrying off the course and into the clubhouse for a 5Z\x-hour wait.

All three wore purple ribbons on their caps honoring Erica Blasberg, a six-year LPGA Tour veteran who died a week earlier at her home in suburban Las Vegas. Police have not said whether foul play was involved, and the coroner said it could take four to six weeks to determine a cause of death.

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