Ochoa recovers to win Wegmans LPGA event
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2007 Wegmans LPGA | Round Four | 25 Jun 2007
Lorena Ochoa has recovered from a mid-round stumble to win the Wegmans LPGA event in Rochester New York after a two hole playoff with Korean rookie, In-Kyung Kim.
Ochoa, the world number one, who led by one shot into the final round, had fallen three shots behind Kim after struggling through the opening fourteen holes of her round. An eagle at the par five 17th could not have come at a better time and when her playing partner, Kim, bogeyed the last hole they headed to the playoff hole to determine the outcome.
19-year-old Kim is in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour and the co-medalist at last year’s tour school is already showing signs of a significant future on the LPGA Tour where she is likely to reach the heights of some of her fellow countrywomen before too long. She was unable to hold off the brilliant Ochoa, however, who will be buoyed by her late comeback as she heads into this week’s US Women’s Open.
For Ochoa this was her third win of the season to go with three runner up placings and the US$270,00 will take her past the US$1.5 million dollar mark after just fourteen events. She has a lead of nearly US$500,000 over Suzann Pettersen.
Mi Hyun Kim recovered from her third round of 75 to finish with 69 and moved into third place ahead of Cristie Kerr.
Albury’s Lindsey Wright continued her return to form in recent weeks when she finished in a share of fifth place. Wright finished fourth at the recent McDonald’s LPGA Championship and seems to be back on track after a slow start to the year. The 27-year-old Australian was in a position to challenge for the title today when she eagled her 12th hole then birdied the 13th to move to seven under, and within striking distance, before two consecutive bogeys saw her lose ground.
Rachel Hetherington had a good week when 8th, Katherine Hull 35th while Karrie Webb had a less than satisfactory lead in to next week’s third major of the year when 49th.
The LPGA Tour and Women’s golf worldwide focuses their attention on the US Women’s Open this coming week at Southern Pines near Pinehurst in North Carolina for the greatest event in the female game with Ochoa well on track to finally win that elusive first major.
