Suzann Pettersen wins Sunrise Taiwan LPGA title for second straight season

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Suzann Pettersen won her second consecutive Taiwan Sunrise LPGA Championship Sunday, this one by five shots over Azahara Munoz.

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Associated Press 

Series: LPGA Tour

YANGMEI, Taiwan – Suzann Pettersen held off a mid-round rally Sunday from Azahara Munoz to win her second consecutive Taiwan Sunrise LPGA Championship. 

Pettersen's 3-under-par 69 Sunday gave her a 9-under 279 total for the tournament, five ahead of Munoz's 284. The Spaniard carded a 70 in Sunday's round. 

"It feels great to come here and defend my title and play as well as I did," Pettersen said. "It was very tough out there. Since the very first shot on Thursday, the conditions gave us a very big challenge." 

Pettersen birdied the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to win going away after her bogey on the par-5 ninth allowed Munoz to pull within one stroke on the final day of the competition. 

Earlier, Munoz had registered birdies on the fourth, seventh and eighth to continue her strong run of play from Saturday's round, when her 3-under 69 put her in competition for the first time. She went on to birdie the 12th but bogeys on 13 and 16 allowed Pettersen to pull away. 

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Despite falling short, Munoz expressed satisfaction with her play. 

"I was 4 under through 12 holes, and I was really playing really well," she said. "I made two bogeys coming in but I hit two really good shots and one came up short and one came up long, just misjudged the wind a little bit but I played really well." 

By winning the $2 million Taiwan event, Pettersen puts herself in strong position to challenge South Korea's Inbee Park for the overall 2013 LPGA crown, with two tournaments remaining. Park did not compete in Taiwan. 

"Obviously I know to be able to get to where I want to be," Pettersen said. "I have to win tournaments and I have to take advantage of every week that I play." 

Finishing third in the Taiwan tournament was Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, who registered a 286 after coming in with a 2-under 70 Sunday. 

A big disappointment for the Taiwan crowd was the inconsistent play of Taiwan's Yani Tseng, the 2011 Sunrise champion and former LPGA No. 1. Tseng's poor play on Thursday and Friday effectively took her out of contention, and she finished 10 over for the tournament, 19 strokes off the pace. 

Kyle Juszczyk Didn't Capitalize On Offensive Opportunity

Posted Jan 7, 2014

Ryan MinkBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Ryan Mink Articles



The rookie fullback said the Ravens gave him a chance in practice to make an impression on offense.



It was early in the regular season and the Ravens were still looking for what their offensive identity would be.

That’s when rookie fullback Kyle Juszczyk got his chance in practice to make an impression on offense.

“They gave me an opportunity, they gave me some reps, and I don’t think I took advantage,” Juszczyk said after the 2013 season ended. “That’s something I can build on for next season.”

The 2013 fourth-round pick found his groove on special teams. He was a critical piece of the coverage teams, and was Jacoby Jones’ lead blocker on kickoff returns, a role Juszczyk did well in.

He delivered his first NFL knockout blow against a Chicago Bears defender when returning a kickoff, and made five special teams tackles.

“I think it was a good season. I think I was able to help contribute to the team, and I felt like I was a part of the team. I found my role as a special teams guy and really tried to embrace it,” Juszczyk said.

“Obviously I wish I could have gotten more involved on the offensive side. I take the blame for that.”

The Ravens drafted Juszczyk thinking he could potentially take over for Vonta Leach. But after he struggled in training camp with lead blocking, particularly on the goal line, Baltimore re-signed the veteran fullback.

Juszczyk isn't in the same mold as Leach. The rookie out of Harvard is more of a dynamic, multi-dimensional pass catcher and blocker. But Juszczyk did need some refinement in his blocking if he was going to remain a fullback.

So the rookie spent the year learning behind Leach and playing special teams. Juszczyk got one pass thrown his way in Miami, but it was too far in front of him to catch.

Leach is still under contract for next year, and says he wants to play one or two more years in the NFL. But there is media speculation that the Ravens could cut him again and opt for the younger, cheaper option in Juszczyk next season.

“I definitely look forward to that,” Juszczyk said of one day getting the starting job.

“Vonta was great this year. He’s such an awesome mentor and I learned so much from him. I think that’s going to be huge going into next year. Now I feel like I have a huge advantage because I know what to expect. I feel much more prepared to take on a starting role.”

Leach gave his stamp of approval as he cleaned out his locker.

“He was steadily learning and steadily getting better each week,” Leach said. “I think he’s ready to go out there and show everybody what he can do.”