Morgan third in New York (From Free Press Series)

Morgan third in New York

Monmouth's Becky Morgan had to settle for third place at the Sybase Classic in New York after making a bright start in her bid to become the first Welsh player to win on the LPGA Tour.

American Sherri Steinhauer, twice the Weetabix Women's British Open champion, repeated her 1999 victory with a final-round 69 for a 12-under-par 272 and a two-shot win over South Korea's Grace Park, who shot a final-round 68.

Morgan, who shared the lead with Steinhauer at the start of the last round, finished third after a one-over-par 72.

"I'm really disappointed," admitted Morgan, who finished second in the Chick-fil-A-Charity Championship in Atlanta three weeks ago.

"The ninth was the killer. To drop two shots at that stage was a real setback. But it's the first time that I've been in the final group on the weekend in America, so I suppose I can take some positives."

Morgan started confidently, making birdies at three of the first four holes to cruise into a three-shot lead.

But the 29-year-old bogeyed the short seventh and then ran up that cruel double-bogey six at the par-four ninth.

She pulled her tee shot left, mis-hit her second and bunkered her third.

It dropped her back into a tie for the lead with Steinhauer.

And the US Solheim Cup player grabbed the opportunity to claim the $187,500 prize with three birdies, coming at the tenth, 14th and 15th.

Morgan did have a cheque for $82,812 by way of consolation.