Danielle Ammaccapane became this year`s first three-time champion Sunday and the tour`s leading money winner by taking the 54-hole Lady Keystone Open Sunday.
She fought off repeated challenges from Nancy Lopez, Lori West and Muffin Spencer-Devlin to take the $60,000 winner`s check in the $400,000 event at the West Course of Hershey Country Club.
Ammaccapane recorded a 3-under-par 69 for a 54-hole total of 8-under-par 208 on the 6,348-yard course.
The win gave Ammaccapane a season total of $440,311.
”I knew that if I wanted to get my game to another level I would have to be more aggressive,” she said. ”I never dreamed I could do this. I never thought I could win three tournaments in a year. It`s kind of scary.”
Lopez, who started the day as the leader, dropped into a second-place tie with West and Spencer-Devlin. All three finished with 210 for 54 holes.
Spencer-Devlin had the final day`s best round, a 68.
Ammaccapane, in her fifth year on the tour, started the day two shots behind Lopez, whose poor putting cost her the tournament.
”I saw Nancy do some things I`ve never seen her do,” said Ammaccapane.
”Maybe she is pressing for her first win this year.”
