Date: November 17, 2008
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Stanford holds off Sorenstam

Angela Stanford won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational by one shot from Annika Sorenstam and Brittany Lang in Guadalajara, Mexico. Stanford settled for a par on the par-five 18th hole for a three-under-par 69 to finish on 13-under 275 but had to wait until Sorenstam missed a potential tying birdie putt to wrap up the title for her third career LPGA Tour triumph. Sorenstam also signed for a 69 and finished on 12-under alongside Lang, who closed with a seven-under 65 at the Guadalajara Country Club. Australia&aposs Katherine Hull continued her stellar season, closing with a 72 to finish at eight-under in a share of fourth place. The win is a continuation of a fine run for Stanford. She won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in September and finished in the top four in each of her three events since. She was part of an eight-way tie for the lead after Thursday&aposs first round, but took control during the second round with four birdies on the front nine. She stayed in front with a third-round 72 and birdied holes six, 10 and 11 in a bogey-free final round to edge Sorenstam. Sorenstam started her round with nine straight pars before matching Stanford with a birdie at the 10th. The former world No.1 added birdies at the 14th and 16th and looked to have one more on 18 from about 10 feet, but her putt went halfway down and lipped out, making a winner out of Stanford. The Swede was looking for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season – and first since announcing she will step away from competitive golf at the end of the year. Sorenstam&aposs last victory was the Michelob ULTRA Open in May, but since then her best finish was a third-place showing at June&aposs LPGA Championship. The tournament&aposs namesake, Lorena Ochoa, carded a final-round 70 and tied for 14th on four-under. In search of her eighth victory of the season, Ochoa has mathematically locked up the Rolex Player of the Year honours and was the star attraction in her native Guadalajara at the third and final Mexican event on the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule. The event served as the final tune-up for players competing in the 2008 ADT Championship and was the 15th LPGA Tour event hosted by an LPGA Tour player. Meanwhile, local Hee Kyung Seo stormed home to win the inaugural Saint Four Ladies Masters on Jeju Island in South Korea. The 22-year-old shot birdies on her final four holes to overrun compatriot Sun-Ju Ahn by two strokes. The three-round tournament was co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA). The only Australian in the field, Anna Rawson, was among a group of players to finish in a tie for 17th place at three-under.