ANALYSIS: TEN BEST FROM STATE FARM CLASSIC

There were plenty of stellar efforts recorded during the four-day State Farm Classic this past week in Springfield, Ill., but some stood out more than others.

And those fine showings weren't all coming from the players at the top of the final leaderboard.

Here is a look at my top player performances from the event:

10. KYEONG BAE

69-69-71-67 - 276 (T12)

The South Korean standout put together a strong showing in Springfield, finishing in a tie for 12th after posting a final-round, 5-under-par 66 to close things on her tournament. Bae's 66 was one of the low rounds of the day, helping her just miss the top 10 after starting in a tie for 25th place. Her game improved as the tourney went on, as she hit 24 of 28 fairways over the final two days and posted just one bogey through the closing 36 holes.

9. NICOLE HAGE

71-68-72-69 - 280 (T28)

Twitter: @NicoleHage

The Auburn University product clearly had one of the wildest rounds of the tournament, putting up crooked numbers (good and bad) over the four-day span. Hage racked up 20 birdies, six bogeys and four double bogeys on her way to finishing at 10 under for a share of 28th place. Ranked sixth on the tour in driving distance at just under 270 yards per tee shot, Hage was on point Sunday as she hit 13 of 14 fairways. However, she was unable to produce that near-perfect run on fairways hit Friday and Saturday, primarily due to her exceptional length, and was only able to drive the ball safely 19 of 28 chances. If Hage can find some consistency as such a big hitter, she has the overall game to become a weekly contender on the tour.

8. JANE PARK

73-68-73-67 - 281 (T35)

Twitter: @The_JanePark

Park saved her best for last at the State Farm Classic, firing a 5-under 67 on an impressive final round en route to a share of 35th place. The UCLA product had one of the biggest moves Sunday, as she started the final 18 holes in tie for 56th place. Park, one of the most personable players on the tour, called out her short game for letting her down at one point during the tourney. However, it was her typically consistent putting that showed its usual life as she only needed 76 putts over the final 54 holes to stay in the mix. Park, the Luke Donald or Brad Faxon of putting on the women's tour, boasts the LPGA's third-best average in putts in regulation (1.70). She isn't the longest hitter off the tee (247.5 avg, T98) and or most accurate htting the greens in regulation (0.621, 107th), but her game is so close to taking a big step forward. Sunday's round - and the tournament in general - should give her confidence heading into next week's LPGA Championship and the remainder of the season.

7. BRITTANY LINCICOME

67-69-66-70 - 272 (T3)

Twitter: @Brittany1golf

Web site: www.brittany1golf

Lincicome put together another huge week of golf, finishing in a tie for third place with a final-round 70 during the State Farm Classic. The big hitter entered the tournament fresh off her victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and looked destined for repeat trip to the winner's trophy presentation. However, Lincicome struggled mightily off the tee Sunday, hitting just 8 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation in what had to be a disappointing round of 70 on a day when scores were low throughout the field. Lincicome will be one of the favorites in Rochester next week and, with the important addition of former LPGA player A.J. Eathorne on her bag, a contender for Rolex Player of the Year honors.

6. PAULA CREAMER

68-68-69-67 - 272 (T3)

Twitter: @ThePCreamer

Creamer was once again on her game the entire week, highlighted by her 5-under 67 on Sunday to earn herself a share of third place. Arguably the Tour's most popular golfer, Creamer went had just two bogeys the entire tournament, including an opening 44-hole stretch of par or better. Her fairways hit (49 of 56) and greens in regulation (63 of 72) for the tournament were brilliant, but her putting was less to be desired as she needed 30 or more putts in each of the opening three rounds, likely costing her a shot at the crown. Creamer is another big favorite to win next week's LPGA Championship, but she's going to have to improve off on the putting surface (she's tied for 68th on the tour in greens in regulation at 1.84) if she has any chance at winning another major championship.

5. VICKY HURST

70-72-70-66 - 278 (T19)

Twitter: @TheVickyHurst

Hurst received my vote for Sunday's best round, with her 6-under 66 that gave her a share of 19th place after starting the day tied for the 47th in the State Farm Classic. What was most impressive was how she reached that score. Hurst was a medicore 9 for 14 in fairways hit, but made up for her errant tee shots with her putter and iron play. The American wound up 14 for 18 on fairways hit and needed just 26 putts during her round, en route to her bogey-free 66 at Panther Creek. Look for Hurst to build off her performance this past week and stay in contention in Rochester as she seeks her first tour victory.

4. SE RI PAK

69-68-68-68 - 273 (T5)

Pak was on her game all week at the State Farm Classic, capped by a 4-under 68 on Sunday that helped her grab a share of fifth place in what has turned into a comeback season of sorts for the legend. The Hall of Famer has been battling some health issues, making her effort even more impressive. Fatigue seems to have been a factor for Pak and might have kept her from getting close to eventual champion Yani Tseng in the tournament. Pak struggled on Nos. 17 and 18 all four days, going 4 over on those combined eight holes. However, her overall showing and the fact she's missed just one cut in eight starts signifies Pak should definitely be a contender entering next week's major championship.

3. MINDY KIM

64-67-69-73 - 273 (T5)

Twitter: @MindyKim89

What started out as such a promising tournament had to be nothing but a major disappointment for the rising star. Kim put together a magical run early on, capturing her first 36-hole advantage in her young professional career. The American kept things going well, even as the stars moved closer to her on the leaderboard. Kim wound up with a hard-earned, 3-under 69, putting her a stroke behind leader Tseng going into the final round. However, Kim showed her youth and seemed to let the pressure of playing in the final group with Tseng get to her as she was anything but spectacular Sunday when the intensity picked up. She sealed her unfortunate fate midway through the final round, going 4 over during a six-hole span en route to her share of fifth place. Kim, my outright pick to win the State Farm Classic before the event began, is destined for greatness on the tour. She will win this season and make a ton of noise weekly if she continues to play at this level. Kim surely gained a ton of experience playing with Tseng and leading the field for nearly 54 holes. Hopefully, that carries over next week in Rochester and the rest of the 2011 campaign.

2. CRISTIE KERR

70-67-66-67 - 270 (2)

Web site: www.cristiekerrgolf.com

What else can say about Kerr other than the fact she's the best American golfer and sits comfortably with Tsang as the top two players in the world. Kerr was on her game Sunday, firing a 5-under 67 to finish just three strokes behind Tseng at the State Farm Classic. The event's 2010 champion, Kerr was bogey free Sunday and seemed to find every green in regulation (16 of 18 actually) as she chased Tseng throughout the tournament. But as strong as her effort was, Kerr will be the first to tell you she left some birdies on the course due to some inconsistent putting. She needed 30 putts in the final round, showing her putter wasn't at its best and making her 66 look that more impressive. Had she made a few more of those putts, a round of 63 or 64 would have been likely and another championship in her trophy cabinet. Kerr enters the LPGA Championship as the odds-on favorite and rightfully so. She destroyed the field last year on her way to an impressive, record-breaking 12-stroke victory for her second major title. Combine that with the fact Kerr has finished second in three consecutive tournaments this season and you have a player primed to pick up another major championship.

1. YANI TSENG

67-66-66-68 - 267 (1)

Twitter: @YaniTseng

Tseng clearly showed the reason why she's the top-ranked player in the world with her impressive victory. She played the final 39 holes without a bogey and went 12 under during that stretch, cruising to her second Tour win of the season. Tseng was consistenly long off the tee, averaging 278.13 yards on her drives. That allowed her to shorten the course, setting her up for short iron shots and giving her plenty of chances at birdie. She wound up with 22 birdies, an eagle and just three bogeys during the tournament to record her seventh top-10 finish in nine Tour events this season. Tseng, along with Kerr, enters the LPGA Championship as one of the prime contenders for the crown. Don't be surprised if the Chinese Taipei star comes through with another scintillating performance for her fourth major crown.


Note: All photos courtesy of The Associated Press

TSENG HOLDS OFF FIELD FOR STATE FARM TITLE

YANI TSENG

@YaniTseng

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Top-ranked Yani Tseng won what could be the final LPGA State Farm Classic on Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 to hand Cristie Kerr her third straight second-place finish.

Tseng, from Chinese Taipei, had a 21-under 267 total on the Panther Creek course for her seventh tour title in four years. She also won the season-opening LPGA Thailand. Tseng used rounds of 67-66-66-68 on her way to the victory.

In the 2008 tournament, Tseng led by a stroke with a hole left, but flew the green, made bogey then lost to Ji Young Oh in a playoff when she three-putting the first extra hole.

"I just kept telling myself: 'Focus! Focus!' " said Tseng, bogey-free the final two rounds. "I missed a couple of putts but I still was able to make some birdies."

Tseng bought Annika Sorenstam's house - with its giant trophy case - in Florida in 2009.

"I go back to my house and see all that empty space and I try to fill it up," Tseng said. "I want to put all my amateur trophies in there and get closer."

Kerr, the 2010 winner, finished three strokes back, shooting a 67.

"I played good. I just needed to get some of those putts to the hole, give 'em a chance to go in," Kerr said. "It would have been nice to make birdie on the last hole, but it didn't matter. She was too far ahead."

Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome (70) tied for third at 16 under. Lincicome triumphed last week at the LPGA event in New Jersey.

Early-tournament leader Mindy Kim struggled to a disappointing 1-over-par 73 and settled for a share of fifth place with Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak at 15 under for the tournament.

Title sponsor State Farm Insurance Companies had declined to renew its commitment after this year and a replacement sponsor has yet to be found, putting the event in danger of folding.

- Jeremy Pond & The Associated Press reports

Note: Analysis and highlights to follow later about the event.

UPDATE: TSENG ONE HOLE FROM CHAMPIONSHIP

YANI TSENG

@YaniTseng

UPDATES

5:55 p.m. - Yani Tseng is one hole from capturing the 2011 LPGA State Farm Classic as she sits on her three-stroke lead with one hole to play.

Tseng stands at 21 under par, with Cristie Kerr in the clubhouse after firing a 5-under 67 on her round.

5:15 p.m. - Defending champion Cristie Kerr has moved within two strokes of the lead with two holes remaining in the final round of play.

Kerr birdied the 16th hole on the Panther Creek course, moving her to 18 under for the tournament.

Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome sit in a tie for third place at 16 under par.

4:55 p.m. - Cristie Kerr continues her late charge at the State Farm Classic, in hopes of repeating as champion at the LPGA event.

Kerr sits alone in second place at 17 under through 15 holes, just three strokes behind Yani Tseng.

Brittany Lincicome just bogeyed No. 14 to fall into third place at 14 under par.

4:41 p.m. - Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome are on the heels of leader Yani Tseng as the leaders move closer toward the finish at the State Farm Classic.

Kerr and Lincicome, who won last week's LPGA tourney in New Jersey, sit two strokes behind Tseng in the race toward the championship.

4:23 p.m. - Se Ri Pak has used a big final round to move herself into contention. The Hall of Famer is moved into a tie for fourth place with Mindy Kim and Wendy Ward, all sitting at 15 under for the tourney.

4:12 p.m. - Yani Tseng has maintained her lead to a three-stroke advantage through 10 holes during the final round of the State Farm Classic. Tseng sits at 19 under, three shots better than Mindy Kim, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome, who are locked in a three-way tie for second place.

Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak is 4 under on the day, putting her in a tie for fifth place at 15 under par with Wendy Ward. Paula Creamer just dropped a stroke with a bogey on the 13th hole to fall into a tie with China's Shanshan Feng for seventh place in tournament action.

3:51 p.m. - Yani Tseng has extended her lead to a three-stroke advantage during the final round of the State Farm Classic. Tseng just birdied the eighth hole to get to 19 under par, three shots better than Mindy Kim, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome.

Kim had pulled within one stroke of Tseng after back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6, but posted devastating bogeys on the next two holes to move her to 16 under and into a second-place logjam.

2:55 p.m. - Mindy Kim has just birdied the par-3 fifth, getting her to 17 under par and one shot behind current leader Yani Tseng.

Cristie Kerr maintains sole possession of third place, sitting at 16 under for the tournament.

2:12 p.m. - Yani Tseng just opened her final round with a birdie, giving her a two-stroke edge on Mindy Kim. This is exactly what Kim - and the field for that matter - can't afford. As I said Saturday, an early birdie barrage from Tseng and this tournament is going to be over before the leaders hit the first turn.

Kim, the two-day tournament leader, parred the first hole to keep her at 16 under par. Cristie Kerr is 2 under for her round through three holes, putting her at 15 under and in current sole possession of third place.

1:52 p.m. - Jane Park just closed out the current low round of the day at the State Farm Classic, chalking up a 5-under 67 en route to a four-round score of 7 under for her best performance of the 2011 campaign.

Park had a solid day off the tee, hitting 12 of 14 fairways, and needed just 25 putts to close out her near flawless round. Park carded six birdies and one bogey, giving the UCLA product a current share of 35th place as the clubhouse leaders tee off in their chase for the crown.

1:36 p.m. - Jiyai Shin continues to make a Sunday move toward the top. Shin sits at 12 under for the tournament and 3 under on the day, currently putting her in a tie for sixth place. She opened with an eagle to start her round.

1:34 p.m. - American Natalie Gulbis has made a steady climb up the leaderboard, moving to 10 under par after opening with at 3 under through her first seven holes.

12:50 p.m. - South Korean star Jiyai Shin has come flying out of the box, carding an eagle on the first hole during Sunday's final round at the LPGA State Farm Classic. Shin moved herself to 11 under par as the leaders prepare to tee off on their rounds.

POND: FIRST TOUR TITLE IN KIM'S GRASP

Very few thought Mindy Kim would be 18 holes from capturing her first career LPGA Tour victory prior to the start of this week's State Farm Classic.

And I'm sure, Kim herself would have been skeptical had someone told her she'd be in the final pairing with Yani Tseng, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, come Sunday at the Springfield, Ill., tournament.

But after three stellar rounds, which included a career-best 64 on Thursday, the American is poised for a breakthrough victory that will put her on the map and solidfy the rising star as perennial tournament contender.

After her brilliant opening round, Kim followed it up with a workmanlike 5-under 67 on Friday en route to a two-stroke lead entering weekend play. That score and lead was more impressive due to the fact Kim has never made a cut at this event.

Saturday she maintainted her steady play, carding a 3-under 69 on the round. But it was two costly bogeys on the back nine that cost her the outright and share of the lead. The final bogey, which came on the 18th, knocked her out of first place for the first time all tournament.

"My ball wasn't going so straight," Kim told The Associated Press, "but my round turned into a good round."

Kim had six birdies on the day, including a three-birdie streak on Nos. 10, 11 and 12 during her round. However, it was the bogeys that burned her asTseng was putting together her bogey-free 66 to assume the lead.

Obviously, the odds are stacked against Kim heading into the final round of play. Being paired with Tseng, who is also the reigning Rolex Player of the Year, is unfavorable. Tseng is probably the best closer in the women's game when she has the lead and has the ability to go low at any moment.

And if Tseng goes on an early birdie run Sunday and puts herself three to four shots ahead of the field before hitting the turn, this tournament is all but over and everyone else will be playing for second.

But unlike the case with Tseng, there's no pressure on Kim at all, giving her the lone advantage she has for the remainder of this tournament. And it might also be the most important factor or edge any player has working herself.

"I'm excited about Sunday," Kim told The Associated Press. "I'm playing with the No. 1 player in the world. I'm very excited to be playing with her. Hopefully it will be a good day."

For it to be a good day, she needs to do exactly what she did the first two rounds: hit her fairways and greens, and keep that hot putter working for her that's carried Kim all week long. If any of those parts to her game are off, it surely will be a long day in the park for Kim.

I picked Kim to win the State Farm Classic prior to the opening round and I'm sticking with her to raise her first LPGA tournament trophy. I just think her lack of experience against a player like Tseng and those lurking just behind them, including former major tournament champions Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Se Ri Pak, plays to her advantage.

Kim has nothing to lose and all to gain, and sometimes that's the best thing anyone could ask for in this situation. She needs to play loose and with confidence. A fast start out of the gate is important to get even or back in front of Tseng. And I think that's exactly what will happen en route to the championship.


PREDICTIONS:
Winner: Mindy Kim
Top five (in order): Kim, Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Paula Creamer

POND: KIM'S FAST START IN 2011 NO SURPRISE

Oh, what a difference a year can make. Just ask Mindy Kim.

After making just 13 cuts in 30 events over the past two years, Kim has turned the corner in a major way during the 2011 LPGA campaign. And now, the rising American star is poised to claim her first Tour victory this weekend at the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill., after a stellar opening 36 holes to the tournament.

Kim came out hot during Thursday's opening round, firing a career-best 8-under-64, which she followed up with a tidy 5-under 67 on Friday en route to a two-stroke lead entering weekend play. Not too shabby for a player who has never made a cut at this event.

This is unfamiliar territory for Kim, marking the first time she's held a lead after 36 holes in an LPGA event since turning professional in March 2007.

Obviously, Kim's sudden rise on the Tour has shocked many inside and outside the ropes. But for myself, this was a long time coming and something I expected sooner than this point.

I've been following Kim since the 2008 season when she racked up three wins on the Futures Tour and felt she'd make an immediate impact on the LPGA Tour sometime toward the end of the 2009 season-start of the 2010 campaign.

However, that never happened. Cuts were missed, opportunities were squandered and Kim was suddenly lost among the masses trying to find herself - and her game - going into this year's season.

“I wasn’t necessarily working that hard the last two years,” Kim told The Vancouver Sun following Friday's round. “I was kind of going through some personal issues, so wasn’t really into it. But this off-season I practiced really hard, worked hard, and I think I’m getting all the results now.”

That she is.

Kim already has three top-10s in six events this year, including last week's share of eighth place in the ShopRite LPGA Classic. And just as impressive, Kim has yet to miss a cut this year and has earned more than $142,000.

After watching her season-opening display in the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, where she posted scores of 69-67-72 on her way to a sixth-place finish, it was easy to see this wasn't the same Kim we'd watched the past two seasons.

When she followed that up with a share of seventh place in the Kia Classic, I knew she was going to be a major contender this season.

What's great about Kim is she doesn't rely on one aspect of her game to pull her through on the course. Instead, she's a true model of consistency. Kim knows how to make her way around the course without finding any nightmarish trouble and, most importantly, knows how to score and capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves.

This week, Kim has been brilliant off the tee, hitting 25 of 28 fairways and 31 of 36 greens in regulation. But perhaps her most impressive statistic has been created with her putter. She's had just 53 putts through the first 36 holes of play.

"Honestly, in the past I just didn't practice in my offseason. I would just hang out with my friends, and I think I did a little too much of that," Kim told The Assocuated Press. "This offseason, I cut out a lot of time for golf. I spent a lot of time on the golf course preparing myself mentally with my new coach."

I predicted one of two players would win last week's LPGA ShopRite Classic in New Jersey, which can be found in my past postings on Twitter. The first? Kim, who finished tied for eighth. The second? Brittany Lincicome. Fortunately for Lincicome, not Kim, I was on the money as Lincicome captured the crown.

This week, I stuck with Kim and did it with all the confidence in the world. So much, that I didn't go with my standard second choice.

Bottom line, this is Kim's tournament to lose. Not to win. Kim is playing her best golf during a year where she's already been in the mix a handful of times in the late stages of tournaments. Her game, attitude and demeanor all signal victory this weekend, setting up the potential for that breakthrough moment in her career which could launch her to stardom.

WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
Winner: Mindy Kim
Top five: Mindy Kim, Yani Tseng, Jiyai Shin, Brittany Lincicome, Paula Creamer
Sleeper: Morgan Pressel