Golf

Han wins slowly but quite surely

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. - After a good night's sleep, South Korea's Hee-Won Han hit the golf course feeling recharged and aggressive.

She opened with consecutive birdies Monday en route to 3-under 68 and a wire-to-wire, two-stroke victory in the 54-hole Office Depot Championship.

"This morning, I felt pretty good," she said. "I started birdie-birdie and that was good for me."

Han earned her fourth career LPGA title and first this year with 12-under 201 in the tour's first nonplayoff Monday finish since 1999.

Han's compatriot, Soo-Yun Kang, was second after 5-under 66 for 203. Scotland's Catriona Matthew was third at 68-205.

Han, who has eight top-10 finishes this year, earned $195,000.

All 79 players who made the cut returned Monday to finish the event being played for the first time at Trump National. Exceedingly slow play the first three days and a 31/2-hour delay because of dense fog Saturday plagued the tournament. The players also were cut off by darkness Sunday.

Bradenton rookie Paula Creamer shot her second straight 72 for 212. She was disqualified, however, for improperly changing clubs during the round. She removed a 5-iron from her bag Monday and replaced it with a 3-wood.

Creamer realized her mistake after she finished and called tournament officials. She had to give up prize money of $11,859.

[Last modified October 4, 2005, 02:15:30]