American Angela Stanford held off a hard charging Annika Sorenstam by firing a closing-round three-under 69 to capture the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday.

Stanford settled for a par on the par-5 18th hole of the one million dollar event to win her third career US LPGA event.

"I still can't believe I won," Stanford said. "It is a great day. I can't ask for anymore more, playing at Lorena's event with Annika in final round."

Sweden's Sorenstam holed out from the bunker on the 16th hole to close within one shot of Stanford but failed to force a playoff when her birdie attempt lipped out on the final hole of the tournament.

"I tried," Sorenstam said. "I had a lot of lips today. It is a bummer but I fought to the end."

Stanford shot a bogey free round Sunday to finish with a 13-under 275 total. Sorenstam was one stroke back, tied with Brittany Lang, after shooting 69 in the fourth round.

Lang shot seven-under 65 for the best round of the day.

"I played unbelievable and I didn't make too many mistakes," Lang said. "I was in a zone. I was very focussed and happy and tried not to look at scoreboard."

Stanford has been playing some of the best golf of her career lately.

She won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in September and finished in the top-four in each of her three events since then.

She stayed in front with a 72 on Saturday and birdied Nos. 6, 10 and 11 in a bogey-free round on Sunday to outlast Sorenstam.

Sorenstam started her round with nine straight pars before matching Stanford with a birdie at the 10th. Sorenstam added birdies at Nos. 14 and 16 and looked to have one more on 18 from about 10 feet, but her putt went halfway down and lipped out.

"Angela played good today," Sorenstam said. "I gave it my all. My game is there. I am enjoying the last part of the season. Today just wasn't enough."

Sorenstam was looking for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season, and first since announcing she will retire at the end of the year.

The tournament's namesake, Lorena Ochoa, carded a 70 on Sunday and tied for 14th at four-under.

"I cannot be sad," Ochoa said. "It has been an incredible week. I enjoyed it.

"This is my home course. I got lot of support from fans so I couldn't have asked for anything better."

The event is serving as the final tune-up for players competing in the 2008 ADT Championship.

AFP

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook