(Guadalajara, Mexico)
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rnAmerican Angela Stanford fired a final round 3-under par 69 to win the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational by Banamex and Corona Light. She held off Sweden&aposs Annika Sorenstam and America&aposs Brittany Lang by one shot to claim her third career title and collect the US$200,000.00 winner’s cheque. Australia&aposs in-form Katherine Hull held a share of the lead mid-way through the final round only to fall back in to a share for 4th at 8-under par total 280.
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rnWith 18 holes to go, Stanford, at 10-under, held a one shot lead over Sorenstam with Hull a further shot back in 3rd place, while Lang started the final day at 5-under par. At the turn, Hull and Stanford were at 11-under par with a two-shot lead. Birdies at the 10th and 11th holes gave Stanford a winning lead of three shots after Hull made bogey at the 11th, followed by another at the 13th. Stanford made all pars from there while Sorenstam and Lang both walked to the 18th tee needing a birdie to match the 13-under par score of Stanford and force a playoff. Both players missed their birdie attempts and Stanford notched her second victory in five weeks after winning the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Alabama.
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rnAfter collecting the trophy from tournament hostess, Lorena Ochoa, Stanford said, “I felt like I was the best version of myself today. I stuck to my game plan. I was patient…and I believed in myself.” This victory saw her reach the US$1 million mark in season’s earnings for the first time in her eight-year LPGA career.
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rnHull was the only Australian to appear in the 36-player elite field that comprised 15 of the Top-20 on the Rolex Rankings. With nine holes to go, she was in with a real chance of capturing her second title but bogies in the early stages of the last nine put paid to her chances. Her consolation may be that she also surpassed the million dollar mark and now has season earnings of US$1,031,619.00 and sits 13th on the Official Money List. She goes on to this week’s ADT Championship full of confidence and with every chance of winning the $1million first place cheque. The only other Australian in the elite 32-player field will be World No.9 Karrie Webb, who will be looking to end only her third winless year on the LPGA. She still has season earnings in excess of US$750,000.00 and sits 22nd on the money list.
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