Three big Mexican flags fluttered in the brisk wind above crowd at the 18th hole. Lorena Ochoa had made her country proud again.
Cheered on by a big, enthusiastic gallery, Ochoa left her pursuers in the desert dust on Sunday to successfully defend her title at the Safeway International with a dominating seven-stroke victory.
The 26-year-old sensation shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 22-under 266. She won for the second time in three tries in the young LPGA Tour season.
It was the lowest score, by four shots, in the five years the tournament has been held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club.
Ochoa turned the tournament into a rout with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, then punctuated her 19th career tour victory with a birdie tap-in on the 18th.
“It was a great day,” she said, “especially the back nine.”
The world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer and the LPGA Tour player of the year the past two seasons won eight times last year and has 16 victories in her last 53 starts.
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