Ochoa tops Kung in Navistar Classic for first win in eight tries

9/30/2008

Lorena Ochoa won the Navistar LPGA Classic on Sunday for her seventh victory of the year and first since May, beating Candie Kung with a 2-foot par putt on the second hole of a playoff.

Recharged after a month away from the tour, the top-ranked Mexican star closed with a 2-under 70 to match Kung (67) and Cristie Kerr (66) at 15-under 273. Kerr was eliminated with a bogey on the first extra hole.

Ochoa was winless in seven starts after opening the year with six wins in nine events, including four straight.

Shanshan Feng (66) and Song-Hee Kim (69) tied for fourth at 14 under on the links-style Senator Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex.

Sweden's Louise Friberg, tied for the lead with Ochoa at 13 under entering the round, shot a 72 to tie for sixth at 13 under with Wendy Doolan (68), Sarah Jane Kenyon (69), Jill McGill (69) and LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng (70).

On the second playoff hole, Ochoa two-putted from the back fringe, leaving only 2 feet for par. Kung three-putted from about 30 feet.

Leaderboard – Final:

1. Lorena Ochoa                  67 67 69 70 273 -15
2. Cristie Kerr                      66 71 70 66 273 -15
    Candie Kung                   69 72 65 67 273 -15
4. Shanshan Feng                68 70 70 66 274 -14
    Song-Hee Kim                 68 68 69 69 274 -14
6. Wendy Doolan                 68 73 66 68 275 -13
    Sarah Jane Kenyon          70 69 67 69 275 -13
    Jill McGill                         65 69 72 69 275 -13
    Yani Tseng                      71 66 68 70 275 -13
    Louise Friberg                  67 71 65 72 275 -13

Source: AP, LPGA Tour