OFFICE DEPOT CHAMPIONSHIP NOTEBOOK: DIAZ DISPLEASED WITH THIRD PLACE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Laura Diaz wouldn't hear of it.

To many, a third-place finish in the Office Depot Championship on Sunday at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, and the $66,250 she won, would be considered a success.

But Diaz, who won her first tournament title a few weeks ago at the Welch's/Circle K Championship, was in no mood to accept moral victories.

``It was not a good day,'' Diaz said. ``Not enough birdies and one too many bogeys.''

Diaz played in the final group with the world's top player, Annika Sorenstam, and Se Ri Pak, who won the tournament. Diaz shot a final-round 73 and finished third at 3-under par - four shots behind Pak, who won at 7 under and also shot 73.

``(Sorenstam and Pak) are two of the world's greatest players,'' Diaz said. ``We're full of the world's greatest players. It was fun playing with them. We had great, great fans. It was a good week.''

But it's not always beneficial to play with superstars. Many times Sorenstam's caddie asked golf fans who were running to the next tee to stand still while Diaz putted out. The gallery grew from about 2,000 to nearly 3,000 on the back nine. Other times, photographers were snapping pictures of Pak while Diaz was hitting.

The 27-year-old Diaz has emerged as one of the top players on tour. She's in first place in the U.S. Solheim Cup point standings and a distant second - to Sorenstam - in the Rolex Player of the Year points and season money list.

Last season, Diaz had 12 top-10 finishes and was second in three tournaments. She might not have the name recognition that Pak or Sorenstam do, but if she continues to play well, it could just be a matter of time.

``I was just going out trying to make a lot of birdies today and it wasn't happening,'' Diaz said. ``What are you going to do? I played the best I could. It wasn't good enough.''

As she was walking off the 18th, Greg Dyne, 16, who lives in Calabasas, yelled for Diaz's golf ball from the stands. She threw it to Dyne, who later admitted he didn't know who she was.

--Start your engines: Pak won a new Hyundai Tiburon car, in addition to the $100,000 for winning the tournament. The Office Depot Championship is the lone tournament on tour that gives a car to the winner. Also, Shell Oil donated $1,000 in gas to Pak and $1,000 in gas to City of Hope.

--Down under no more: Wendy Doolan is the latest Australian to do well on the professional golf circuit. Most everyone knows about Karrie Webb, who's won $7.7 million in her career, second only to Sorenstam, who has $8.7 million.

Doolan shot a 72 on Sunday and finished in a three-way tie for fourth at 1-under par.

``It's in the water,'' Doolan joked.

Among the successful Australians on the PGA Tour are: Robert Allenby, who won the Nissan Open last year; Steve Elkington, who won the PGA Championship at Riviera Country Club in 1995; and Greg Norman, formerly the world's top player. Adam Scott, 21, twice has won on the European Tour.

Staff writer Dave Shelburne contributed to this report.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) Rookie Natalie Gulbis of Sacramento hits out of the trap on the fourth hole Sunday afternoon at El Caballero Country Club.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) FINAL-ROUND SCORES

(2) OFFICE DEPOT LEADERBOARD