Sorenstam claims another victory at Safeway
IN: News | LPGA | Safeway International (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 21 Mar 2005
Just as her male equivalent had done an hour or so earlier in Florida, Annika Sorenstam, the number one player in golf, chased down the tearaway leader at the Safeway International, Lorena Ochoa, but she would go one better than Vijay Singh by taking out the tournament on the first extra hole.
For Ochoa this would be a significant set back. A win against the women who she may well replace in years to come as the number one player in the female game, would have been a great boost and provided proof that she could hold off the relentless Swede in the all important closing stages of such an event. That she allowed Sorenstam to come from four behind with just three holes to play may well play on her mind in the short term. It was not so much that Sorenstam had lifted her game it was more that Ochoa stumbled. A double bogey at the 16th for the second consecutive day, was followed by a bogey at the 17th. When she failed to get her birdie at the reachable par five last, she had opened the door for Sorenstam who was only too happy to accept the invitation to walk right through.
Ochoa had started day three with a one shot lead over Soo Yun Kang, but a four shot lead over Sorenstam. Three early bogeys by the Mexican reduced the margin to two but when she rallied with three birdies in the next four holes she was again out to a lead which would become four when she birdied the 15th. To all intents and purposes the event was over, but then came the stumble and the solid back nine of Sorenstam which had her at 11 under and sharing the lead as she walked to sign her card. Ochoa still had the par five last to play and the opportunity with a birdie to put all the troubles behind her and take the title. She was unable to do such and they headed back to the first playoff hole.
Ochoa's tee shot found the water at the first playoff hole, the 18th and this time it really was all over.
This was Sorenstam's fourth consecutive win on the LPGA Tour and her 58th overall. Two wins in two starts this season and the promise of more to come and quickly.
Ochoa continues to put herself into a position to win week in and week out. This was her 28th top ten in 54 starts as an LPGA member. As often as she has herself in contention, the wins will soon come and this week will not have done her a lot of good in that regard. She is brilliant and will be one of the game's greatest assets in years to come. She is still only 23 and on the verge of a great career.
Veteran Juli Inkster did well for third having shared that position with Soo Yun Kang who made eagle at the last to rescue what otherwise was an ordinary day. It was still, however, her best finish on the LPGA Tour apart from a second place finish at the Takefuji Classic in 2003.
Of the Australians Wendy Doolan and a perhaps disappointing Karrie Webb were best in 26th place, Michelle Ellis 64th and Rachael Hetherington 68th.
The LPGA Tour now heads to California for the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco.
