Lorena Ochoa matched an LPGA record with her fourth-consecutive victory by capturing the US$2.6 million Ginn Open on Sunday by three strokes over Taiwan’s Yani Tseng.
Ochoa fired a final-round three-under 69 to finish 72 holes on 19-under 269, giving the Mexican star her fifth win in six events this year, while 19-year-old Tseng struggled down the back nine to finish with a 71 and 272.
The world’s top-ranked player, Ochoa also won for the fifth time in six events this year. She was coming off an astounding 11-shot victory last week at the Corona Championship.
PHOTO : AP
“I think I’m hitting my irons really good and I keep giving myself birdie chances,” Ochoa said. “I did miss a lot of putts today. But definitely, I won the tournament because of my second shots, just being so consistent.”
Tseng opened with back-to-back birdies and another at the fifth hole, but followed with a bogey at the sixth while Ochoa, who began with a one-shot lead, birdied the third hole and began a run of three birdies in a row at the eighth.
Tseng eagled the 10th to keep the pressure on Ochoa, but was undone by birdies at 13, 15 and 17. Ochoa finished with seven pars and a bogey at the 15th, holding on for the triumph.
Ochoa won last week’s Corona in her homeland and followed up by taking her 22nd career title. She has not blown a lead entering the final round since last year.
Ochoa became the first woman to win four straight titles since Annika Sorenstam in 2001. Mickey Wright (1961 and 1962) and Katey Whitworth (1969) also won four straight events.
Sorenstam (2004 and 2005) and Nancy Lopez (1978) share the tour record with five straight victories in events entered. However, neither of those came in consecutive weeks.
Ochoa will take a break next week when she sits out the Stanford Invitation Pro-Am. She is scheduled to play again in two weeks in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“I survived. I was tired, mentally and physically tired,” Ochoa said. “I didn’t have my legs at the end for the last two or three holes. I’m just glad I hung in there and was able to finish strong. For sure, I’m ready to take a break.”
With the pressure mounting, Tseng struggled down the stretch but still managed the best showing of her career with her second-place finish.
“I almost caught up, but on the last couple of holes, I just made some bad putts,” Tseng said. “I’m not really disappointed, because I think it was a good experience. I still have a long way to go and I want to keep learning and learning.”
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