Las Vegas, Nevada (November 19, 2012)–Big news never stops for Tour golfers who have deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Former Nevada High School State Champion Inbee Park has claimed the 2012 money and scoring titles on the LPGA Tour, becoming the first lady to have lived in Las Vegas to do so. Park played at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School prior to turning professional after briefly enrolling at UNLV. Park banked $2,287,080 and recording an average of 70.21 to earn the Vare Trophy. –By Brian Hurlburt, quotes via tee-scripts.com.
"It means a lot," Inbee told the media following the CME Group Titleholders in Florida played at The TwinEagles Club – Eagle Course. "We had a tight race until the last tournament and the last round. I had to put a lot of pressure on myself this week and it was really hard. This week felt like it was longer than the whole season. I'm really happy that it's finally done and I got the title, really proud of myself, and this is the best year I've had."
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In 2008, Park also became the first true Vegas golfer to win a major championship when she won the U.S. Women's Open. Park’s Vare Trophy and LPGA Official Money List were earned in large part during a streak of 10-consecutive top-10 finishes including two wins, three runner-ups, and more than $1.8 million in earnings between June’s Wegmans LPGA Championship and October’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. She won the Sime Darby and the Evian Masters during the streak.
"They (Vare, money titles) both mean a lot to me," said Park. "I think it is tough to win the money list and it's also tough to win the Vare Trophy. I think it's a little bit tougher to win the Vare Trophy because the scoring average means how consistent you played all year and one bad round can put your average down, so I think it is tough."