Date: September 29, 2008
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Ochoa wins after play-off

Lorena Ochoa needed a play-off to triumph in the Navistar Classic on Sunday for her first win in more than four months. The world No.1 clinched her seventh victory of the year with a two-foot par putt on the second extra hole to win ahead of Candie Kung and Cristie Kerr. Ochoa closed with a two-under-par 70 to finish on 15-under 273 along with Kung (67) and Kerr (66), who was knocked out of the play-off with a bogey on the first hole. Ochoa opened the season with six wins in nine events before failing to record a victory in her last seven starts before this week&aposs triumph. Song-Hee Kim and Shanshan Feng tied for fourth at 14-under. Australia&aposs Wendy Doolan took a share of sixth place at 13-under alongside Sarah Jane Kenyon, Jill McGill, Yani Tseng and Louise Friberg. Katherine Hull was a further stroke back, while Karrie Webb tied for 20th place at 10-under. Meanwhile, Germany&aposs Anja Monke captured her maiden Ladies European Tour title with victory in the Vediorbis Open de France at Le Golf D&aposArras. Monke carded a final round of 68 to finish on 10 under par, two shots clear of Spain&aposs Tania Elosegui and Nina Reis of Sweden. “I can&apost believe it,” said Monke. “I&aposve worked for this moment for the last five years and so it&aposs nice to see it happen.” After opening with rounds of 67, 78 and 65, Monke came from four shots behind overnight leader Stefania Croce of Italy to secure the 41,000-pound first prize. Croce carded a closing 75 to share fourth place on seven-under-par with England&aposs Lora Fairclough and Paula Marti of Spain. “I was in a pretty good mood today because I didn&apost have anything to lose, that&aposs how I felt this morning,” said Monke. “If I lost it then I lost it on Friday for sure. The other three days I won it.” Monke had been a runner-up twice before on the Ladies European Tour, in Holland and Hungary in 2006. She had also posted four top-10 finishes on tour this season. She turned professional at the end of 2005 after working in a hospital laboratory for four years and added: “I know how real life is and real work so that makes my life even more enjoyable.” England&aposs Laura Davies was in a share of third after 54 holes but faded to a closing 75 and joint 11th alongside Australian Karen Lunn. Dana Lacey finished in a share of 17th at one-under, with New Zealand&aposs Lynn Brooky and Aussies Vicky Thomas and Leah Hart tying for 38th place at five-over.