| Ochoa triumphs at 2008 Corona Championship
MORELIA, MICHOACAN, Mexico, April 13, 2008 Some sports call it home-field advantage, but for Mexico's Lorena Ochoa it was more like home-country advantage at the Corona Championship. The 26-year-old finished at 25-under-par 267 (66-66-66-69) at Tres Marias Residential Golf Club to claim her 21st career LPGA title and fulfill the points requirement for the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame. She now must complete 10 years on Tour (2012) before she can officially enter the Hall.
It was an amazing week, said Ochoa, who has carded 18 of 19 rounds under par (94.7 percent). I did enjoy myself a lot. It was really special to be here in my home country.
Ochoa started the day with three birdies on the front nine, but a triple bogey on 11, combined with four consecutive birdies on holes eight through 11 by final group partner Inbee Park (69-64-72-74=279, -13), created a six-shot swing against the world number one. Ochoa bounced back with birdies on holes 13, 14, 16 and 18 to finish her day with the win.
The Rolex Rankings' number one dominated the field for the fourth time this season, winning by 11 strokes for the second time in two months (HSBC Women's Champions). With four victories in five starts this season, she has accumulated a 34-stroke margin of victory 11 more than her combined total after eight wins in 2007. With her $195,000 payday, she became the fastest player (five events) to top the $1 million mark in season earnings ($1,055,550), bettering Annika Sorenstam's record of six events, set in 2005 (LPGA Corning Classic, $1,023,238). |