Teske's win signals change at the top of women's golf

BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2003 Wegmans Rochester LPGA | Wrap | 23 Jun 2003

Rachel Teske has claimed her second consecutive tournament, the eighth of her LPGA career, with her emphatic four shot win over Mexican Lorena Ochoa at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA event in Pittsford, New York.

Rachel’s win moves her to fifth on this season’s money list and given that she finished third the week before the first of the two wins at the LPGA Championship, she is arguably the most dominant player in women’s golf at present outside, of course, Annika Sorenstam.

Although she trailed first round leader Tina Barret by two, she quickly moved ahead in round two and from that point was never headed. That she has been in contention for so long over the last few weeks speaks volumes for not only her physical and mental fitness, but her ever improving game also.

With scoring conditions tough all week, Teske was rock solid throughout and even with the dangers that a four shot lead can bring heading into round four, she hardly put a foot wrong with just the one bogey, three birdies and an eagle at the seventeenth to seal the deal. The brilliant Lorena Ochoa produced the round of the tournament with her last round 66, but that could only get her to within four of Teske.

The victory was worth $US180,000 and takes Teske to fifth on the money list behind Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Grace Park and Lorena Ochoa.

As I suggested last week, Teske is emerging from the shadows cast by Sorenstam, Webb, Pak and Inkster and, although the US Women’s Open in two week’s time has not exactly been a happy hunting ground for her, her current form and confidence suggest she may well be on track for her first major before too long.

Michelle Ellis had one of her better tournaments in 9th place, Karrie Webb, looking to defend her title, was 15th and Wendy Doolan 19th.