Alfredsson soars to win

Helen Alfredsson really enjoyed her win on Sunday at the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

The event’s second winner ever walked into her post-match interview with her cap turned around, a lighthearted greeting and a glass of white wine in hand after shooting a final-round 72 to finish 1-over at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

Alfredsson shared the lead with Trish Johnson at the conclusion of the third round and most of Sunday’s final round, but back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 dropped Johnson to second place, never to return to the top spot.

Alfredsson then had two strokes between her and Johnson, but the separation didn’t give Alfredsson any wiggle room.

“I wish it would have,” Alfredsson said. “Then I would have breathed a little bit easier… It doesn’t (give you room to breathe) because it’s up to me to not make mistakes then and mistakes are so easily done around here.”

Johnson finished with a finalround 74 to finish at 3 over, tied with Juli Inkster.

After a double-bogey on the fifth hole, Alfreddson rattled off 13 straight pars to finish the round. Michele Redman shot the best score on Sunday with a 68, which got her into a tie for fourth with Jane Crafter.