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Marina Alex edges top-ranked Ko Jin-young for LPGA Palos Verdes crown

The 31-year-old American won her only other tour title at the 2018 Portland Classic.

AMERICAN MARINA ALEX claimed a long-awaited second LPGA tour title on Sunday, firing six birdies in a five-under par 66 to win the Palos Verdes Championship by one stroke over world number one Ko Jin-young.

The 31-year-old American, who won her only other tour title at the 2018 Portland Classic, shook off an early bogey to build a 10-under par total of 274.

She powered past overnight leader Hannah Green and New Zealandโ€™s third-ranked Lydia Ko, who started the day one back, erasing a three-shot deficit on the way to victory, and admitted she hadnโ€™t been sure she would see the winnerโ€™s circle again.

โ€œItโ€™s amazing that the hard work has paid off,โ€ Alex said. โ€œI wasnโ€™t sure if this would ever happen again, if Iโ€™m being perfectly honest.

โ€œThereโ€™s so many amazing young players out there.โ€

Alex noted the struggles that the Covid pandemic imposed on everyone. Her return was hindered by an injury that sidelined her for seven months.

โ€œItโ€™s just been a really tough rebuild back,โ€ she said.

Nevertheless, she was able to stay patient on the challenging Palos Verdes course south of Los Angeles and take her opportunities when they came.

After a bogey at the third hole, she birdied the fifth, seventh and eighth to make the turn two-under. She drained long birdie putts at the 11th and 12th to find herself tied for the lead.

Her long eagle attempt at the par-five 16th didnโ€™t drop, but she made the two-footer coming back, her last birdie of the day moving her into the solo lead at 10-under.

Pars at the last two holes were enough to preserve the lead as Australiaโ€™s Green made her fourth bogey of the day at the 17th on the way to a one-over 72 and a share of fifth on 277.

Lydia Ko, who received stretching treatment on the course for tightness in her back, closed with her second straight 70 to share third with American Megan Khang (68) on 276.

Ko Jin-young, trying to shake off a disappointing finish in the LA Open last week, started the day four shots off the pace and climbed the leaderboard with a five-under par 66 that featured an eagle and four birdies with just one bogey.

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    Mute Barry Smyth
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    Aug 16th 2013, 4:24 PM

    Given as your sub keeper kind of makes a mockery of the whole article

    27
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    Mute Prunes Harkin
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    Aug 16th 2013, 4:17 PM

    Never make a defender Captainโ€ฆ Itโ€™s a GOLDEN RULE, even if he has a double games week or is a potent goal scorer like Gary โ€œThe Docโ€ Doherty, you never make him a captainโ€ฆ
    Itโ€™s a negative tactic that limits your chance of getting the most out of your squad for that week!

    But good luck with itโ€ฆ

    23
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    Mute Fionn
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    Aug 16th 2013, 9:26 PM

    Goalkeeper: Gordon banks

    Defenders: cafu. Maldini. Roberto Carlos. Beckenbauer

    Midfield: Ronaldo. Ronaldinho. Kaka. Zico

    Strikers Messi. Pele. Real Ronaldo. Maradona And Fionn Dillon Kelly
    Managed by Steve Staunton.

    What do you think???

    13
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    Mute Declan Mccarthy
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    Aug 16th 2013, 5:52 PM

    It is not as simple as Rvp is worth two Ricky van Wolfswinkel. you still need another two forwards. Having Rvp means something like Rvp or Anelka over Soldado and Negredo/Benteke/Sturridge. I know which one i prefer. The second one is cheaper too

    My team is
    Mignolet, Lewis
    Terry, Toure, Collins, Michael Turner, Chester
    Hazard(c), Walcott, Michu, Mirallas, Jedinak
    Benteke, Soldado, Lukaku

    9
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    Mute Gavin Ahern
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    Aug 16th 2013, 7:13 PM

    Foster
    Toure Coleman Terry
    Coutinho Mirrales Hazard (c) Nolan
    RVP Lukaku Dzeko

    Gazzaniga Lucas Brayford Ramage

    7
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    Mute Owen Slattery
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    Aug 16th 2013, 8:39 PM

    Mata isnโ€™t fully fit, despite being left out of the Spain squad, I doubt he will play both games in the double gameweek, Hazard is probably a better option.

    6
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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Aug 16th 2013, 5:16 PM

    Cech(V)
    Baines, Jagielka, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
    Fellaini, Hoolahan, Carrick, Taarabt
    Berbatov,Van Persie(C)

    Vorn, Rodallega, Diame, Oโ€™Shea

    6
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    Mute SlyLad
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    Aug 16th 2013, 3:33 PM

    Alvaro Negredo I think.

    6
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    Mute SlyLad
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    Aug 16th 2013, 3:35 PM

    My team:

    Vorm azoplicueta kompany agger dembele kagawa coutinho Michu
    Rvp dzeko bony

    8
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    Mute Rory MacClancy
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    Aug 16th 2013, 5:04 PM

    Boruc
    Baker, Martin, Baines,
    Michu, Gerrard, Lampard(C), Hazard,
    Dzeko, RVP, Anelka.

    5
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    Mute Colin Byrne
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    Aug 16th 2013, 5:45 PM

    Mignolet; Riether, Coleman, Zabaleta; Coutinho (v), Downing, Snodgrass, Hazard (c); Anelka, Sturridge, RvP.

    5
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    Mute Adam Everard
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    Aug 16th 2013, 4:52 PM

    thatโ€™s a brutal team.
    cech
    distan luiz mertesacker baines
    Mata cazorla silva diame
    dzeko giroud.

    5
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    Mute Allan O'Connor
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    Aug 16th 2013, 10:16 PM

    Mignolet Zabaleta Mertesacker Ivanovic(V) Azpillicuta Fellaini Hazard(C) Coutinho Anelka Aspas & RVP(natch).

    2
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    Mute Kevin Buston
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    Aug 16th 2013, 11:41 PM

    Gk mignolet

    Ivanovic vidic whittaker zabletta

    Y toure kagawa coutinho dembele

    Rvp Capt podolski

    Subs boruc baker shelvey anelka

    2
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    Mute Giller
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:45 AM

    Here goes.

    Marshall (GKP)
    Baines (DEF)
    Ivanovic (DEF)
    Zabaleta (DEF)
    Shelvey (MID)
    Mata (MID)
    Coutinho (MID) vc
    Santi Cazorla (MID)
    Ba (FWD) cpt
    Bony (FWD)
    Anelka (FWD)

    Subs
    Boruc (GKP)
    Figueroa (DEF)
    Kim (MID)
    Diakitรฉ (DEF)

    2
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    Mute Anto Golden
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    Aug 16th 2013, 6:20 PM

    Lloris

    Walker Zabeleta Ivanovic Baines

    Couthino (C) Allen Ben Arfa

    Dzeko Benteke (V) Bony

    Given Mertszacker Cabaye Snodgrass

    2
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    Mute Robert O'Sullivan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:55 AM

    Mignolet

    Williams. Kompany Baines

    Santi Cazorla,Gerrard,Cabaye,Hazard,

    V.Wonswinkel, Benteke, Berbatov

    2
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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Aug 16th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Mannone.
    Ivanovic, Riether, Evans.
    Brady, Hoolahan, Garvan, Mata (c).
    Benteke, RVP, Soldado.

    1
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    Mute Stef Ruddell
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    Aug 16th 2013, 8:55 PM

    Begovic

    Baines Williams Luis Lugano

    Miralles (V)Hazard Cleverly

    Vydra (C)Van Persie Lukaku

    1
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    Mute Aaron Dillonโ„ข
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    Aug 16th 2013, 10:55 PM

    Starting 11:
    Lloris
    Vidic G.Johnson Luiz
    Nolan Walcott Essien Yaya Toure
    Lambert Rooney Podolski

    Subs : Davis Redmond Shaw Garrido

    1
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    Mute Fionn
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    Aug 16th 2013, 10:59 PM

    Nice team lad

    2
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