Sunday, July 30 2006 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Evian-Les-Bains, (France): Australia's Karrie Webb denied 16-year-old Michelle Wie her first professional victory when she shot a final round 68 to win the Evian Masters in France on Saturday.

It was a third win of a great comeback year for the 31-year-old Australian and she finished on 16-under par 272 and one shot ahead of both Laura Davies and Wie, who at one stage led by two strokes with seven holes to play.

"I'm really thrilled," said Webb after landing her 33rd tournament win in an 11-year career on the LPGA Tour.

"No matter how often you win, it always feels like the first time," she said.

"When Michelle went two shots ahead after 11 holes, I just told myself to trust my swing. Both Michelle and Laura played great today," she said.



Playing in her 31st LPGA tournament, Wie has now had 13 top tens, including seven from 11 majors. It was the third time from six LPGA starts this year that she has finished one shot outside a play-off.

Nevertheless she was able to put a brave face on the disappointment.

"I think this is the closest I've gotten (to winning)," she said.

"I played solid until the end and my game has been very consistent recently. Winning isn't as easy as it would seem," she said.

Webb began the final round one shot ahead, but Wie grabbed a two shot lead after she made eagle at the long ninth and a birdie at the 11th. But Webb hit back with a birdie at the next and the pair were tied when the Hawaiian youngster twice hit into bunkers and dropped a shot at the 13th.

Webb, who won the first major of the year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and also won the Michelob ULTRA Open in May, then struck for the top with birdies at the two short holes, the 14th and 17th. She holed from 15-feet both times.

With a two shot lead, the vastly experienced campaigner played it safe at the par five 18th. She laid up with her second shot and made a safe par, while Wie and Davies both went for the carry over the burn short of the green.

Wie bunkered her second shot but made an up and down for birdie, while Davies' eagle effort from 12-feet scraped by the hole.

South Korean Kim Mi Hyun finished fourth on 14-under par 274 after a 66, with Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, who had a 67 that included an albatross two with a hybrid club at the 482-yard ninth, was fifth on 13-under par 275 after a 67.

Last year's winner, American Paula Creamer, shot a joint best of tournament 65 and was alone in seventh place on 11-under par 277, two shots ahead of world No.1 Annika Sorenstam, who closed with a 70.