Date: November 19, 2007
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Webb wilts as Ochoa ends on high

Australian Karrie Webb has had a horror finish to the ADT Championship won by Mexico&aposs Lorena Ochoa. Webb fired an 84 to finish last of the eight players competing in the unusual format&aposs final day at Trump International in Florida. Ochoa survived a late scare to claim the first prize with an impressive final round of four-under-par 68. Ochoa finished two shots ahead of playing partner Natalie Gulbis while another American, Paula Creamer, was third on 72. The final day of the four-round tournament came down to an 18-hole shoot-out with scores from previous rounds wiped. Ochoa and Gulbis were the last pair out, and the Mexican took a major stride towards the $1.12 million prize with a faultless outward half of five-under-par 31. She birdied the second, third, fifth, sixth and ninth and was four shots clear of the field. She then made par at the next seven holes to remain four ahead before suffering a real jolt with a three-shot swing in Gulbis&apos favour at the short 17th. Ochoa hit her tee shot through the green and ran up a double-bogey five – Gulbis holed a ten-foot birdie putt. But the world No.1 held her nerve and hit her approach shot to within a couple of feet of the hole at the last for a real grandstand finish. She made the easy birdie for the two-stroke victory. It was the perfect end to the season for Ochoa, who replaced Annika Sorenstam as world No.1 six months ago. “This is a great way to end a great year,” said Ochoa, who was runner-up in the same championship a year ago. “One of my goals was to win more titles than last year (six) and to win a first major. I&aposve done both.” Ochoa, 26 last Thursday, claimed her first major at the Ricoh British Open at St Andrews in August, and she has now firmly established herself as the women&aposs top player. “Now I&aposm going to have a good off season and look forward to 2008,” she added.