 |
|
|
 News from Around the Americas | October 2007 
Mexico's Ochoa Captures LPGA Samsung World Championship
 Agence France-Presse
go to original
| | Lorena Ochoa of Mexico poses with the winner's trophy after her victory in the LPGA Samsung Championship golf tournament at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. (AP/Reed Saxon) |
Palm Desert, United States - World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa posted her second successful title defence of 2007 by easily winning the one million-dollar LPGA Samsung World Championship on Sunday.
Ochoa started the round tied with Norway's Suzann Pettersen before going on to shoot a six-under 66 for 18-under 270 and her seventh title of the year.
"I have been trying to get my seventh victory for a couple of weeks," said Ochoa, who clinched the Player of the Year Award. "I like being on top, and I am going to continue to work hard."
Ochoa added 250,000 dollars to her three million-plus earnings, further cementing her grip on the money list lead and as the tour's scoring leader.
"Everything is coming together," she said. "I understand myself a lot better, and I know how to handle the pressure."
She finished with seven birdies and made one bogey for a four-stroke win over South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim, who shot a three-under 69 and finished at 14-under 274.
Pettersen, who overcame Ochoa on the second hole of sudden death playoff to win the Longs Drugs Challenge last week, shot even-par 72 to finish six shots adrift at the Palm Springs-area Bighorn Golf Club.
South Korean Jeong Jang was in a group of three golfers that began the round a stroke behind Ochoa and Pettersen.
While the other two stumbled, Jang's strong play enabled her to tie Ochoa on the ninth hole.
Ochoa birdied the 10th to reclaim the lead, and that lead doubled when Jang bogeyed 13.
Ochoa extended the lead to four with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, and Jang lost her shot at second place wit a bogey at 17, while Kim birdied the final hole to grab the runner-up spot.
Kim who ranks 114th on the tour in driving distance, admitted her finish was something of a surprise on a course she considers more suited to long hitters.
"I'm not confident with this course because it's too long for me," she said.
Michelle Wie averted finishing last by one stroke after shooting a one-under 71 on Sunday.
It was the first time the struggling 18-year-old has shot under-par since the Evian Ladies Masters three months ago. Wie finished 18-over in her final tournament of 2007.
"It was really unfortunate," Wie said of her season, which was marred by the injury, indifferent form and mis-steps in the public relations department. "I battled a lot of injuries. It's only going to make me stronger. I really believe that." |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us