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Naples plays host to LPGA's best

Posted at 10:40 PM, Nov 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-22 22:40:54-05

72 golfers spent the last 4 days swinging for the LPGA title, and on Sunday a Florida woman took home the crown.

38-year-old Christie Kerr won the CME Tour Championship at Tiburon golf resort.

"It feels pretty cool to win the last tournament of the year,” said the Miami native. 

The event is the final tour stop during the 11-month-long LPGA season.  Kerr edged out two golfers with ties to the Naples area.  Mo Martin was born in California, but calls Naples home and Kris Tamulis was born in Naples, and now lives in St. Petersburg.

"It's a place where pros love to come, these players love to finish their season,” said Tiburon GM Rick Rainville.

It’s also a place where an 18-year-old golfer has made a fortune.  Lydia Ko captured the season ending points title, and with it a $1 million purse for the second straight year.

The tournament also generated cash for several charitable causes including $20,000 for the NCH Foundation and $300,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project.

"This helps keep people employed, it creates jobs, we hire several people to bring in for these events,” said Rainville.

Tiburon will play host to the Franklin Templeton Shootout from December 7th to December 15th.