(4 May 2010 – Morelia, Mexico)
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While Lorena Ochoa may have been the main attraction as she wound up her playing career, it was good friend Ai Miyazato who stole the show to win the Tres Marias Championship on Sunday. The Japanese starlet posted rounds of 63,72,71, and 67 to finish at 19-under par, one shot ahead of America’s Stacy Lewis with Michelle Wie a further shot back in 3rd. Ochoa signed for a final round 2-under par 71 to finish in outright 6th.
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rnMiyazato headed into the final round at 13-under par, holding on to a one shot buffer over Wie and compatriot Brittany Lincicome. Lewis and Na Yeon Choi started a further shot back on 11-under, with Ochoa at 10-under and in with a chance of completing a dream farewell. On a fine sunny day with little breeze awaiting the players as they arrived at the 1st tee it looked like it would be fought out between those six players. All six knew they would need birdies to have any chance in the illustrious company at the top of the leaderboard.
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rnThe telling moves were all made early on the final day with Lewis going out in 5-under par to reach 16-under, while Wie registered 3 birdies and an eagle to move to 17-under at the turn. Miyazato had three birdies and no bogeys to reach 16-under and sit just a shot behind Wie. Of the others in the mix, both Lincicome and Ochoa went backwards on the front nine to play themselves out of the tournament, while Choi only picked up one shot to sit 5 shots off the pace.
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rnMiyazato then made her move, following up her birdies on the 8th and 9th holes with another four birdies in the next five holes to move to 20-under par. This included a 3-shot swing on the par 3 13th as Wie made double-bogey to Miyazato’s birdie and with another birdie on the 14th, the tournament looked like Miyazato’s for the taking. However, a bogey on the 15th brought both Wie and Lewis both within two shots.
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rnLewis, playing in the group in front of Miyazato couldn’t make any more birdies until the 18th hole to finish at 18-under with Miyazato sitting on 19-under with only one to play. Wie had made a costly bogey at the 17th to fall three behind and out of it. Miyazato, only needing a par at the par 5 18th found the rough off the tee and had to chip out. She then couldn’t reach the green with her next and left herself an 8-iron, to which she hit to 8-feet. It all came down to that putt which she confidently rolled in centre cup and raised her arms in triumph for the third time this season.
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rnAfter her round, Miyazato said, “This is a really special win for me because this is Lorena&aposs last event, so I feel really great. She&aposs one of my best friends, I&aposm going to miss her.” With this win, Miyazato moves up to No.3 on the Rolex Rankings and leads the LPGA Money List with US$593,284 in season earnings. After wins at the opening two events in Thailand and Singapore, she heads the list by over US$130,000 with Yani Tseng in second place following her win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
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rnOchoa, who fell out of contention on the front nine, played her last nine holes as an active player in 3-under par. After finishing she said, “It wasn&apost the best start, but I&aposm OK. It&aposs golf. It was a tough day with emotions, and now I&aposm only going to remember the fans, the good words, the support they gave me the last four days and, this, being here on the 18th green for the last time.” As she wished, the 28-year old bowed out as the World No.1 in her native Mexico and seems to have no regrets about her decision to retire as she pursues other interests.
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rnAfter 158 weeks as World No.1, Ochoa relinquished the throne to Jiyai Shin who won in Japan on Sunday (see below). With four players (not including Ochoa) all within a point of the World No.1 spot, it will be interesting to see whether one player can dominate the top spot as have the last two players to hold it, Annika Sorenstam and Ochoa. The No.1 spot will be fought out between Shin, Miyazato, Tseng and Suzann Pettersen over the next few months and with a few more good results, it may well be Wie who assumes the mantle of the best player in the world. It all remains to be seen as the players head to the busy part of the season with three Majors to be played between the end of June and the start of August.
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rnWendy Doolan, Katherine Hull and Sarah-Jane Smith all finished in a tie for 20th on the weekend, finishing at 4-under par total 288. Michelle Ellis also made the cut, finishing in a tie for 56th.
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rnThe players have another week off before heading to Alabama for the US$1.3million Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
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Photos by Paul Melville – ALPG