Stanford holds off Sorenstam to win Ochoa Invitational

Nov 17, 2008 - 4:42 AM GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Ticker) - Angela Stanford entered the final round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational with a one-shot and that's where she finished. Barely.

Stanford settled for a par on the par-5 18th hole and had to wait until Annika Sorenstam missed a potential tying birdie putt to wrap up the title at the $1 million event.

With a 3-under-par 69, Stanford finished at 13-under 275 and collected $200,000 for her third career LPGA Tour title.

Sorenstam also signed for a 69 and finished at 12-under 274 along with Brittany Lang, who closed with a 7-under 65.

"I certainly had a chance today, but Angela played very well. As you know, she really didn't make too many mistakes and made a few birdies," Sorenstam said. "I never gave up, kept on fighting, and I had a chance to force a playoff. You know, I hit a lot of good holes. Obviously I was disappointed with that but overall I thought it was a great tournament and I really tried."

The win is just a continuation of a hot stretch for Stanford. She won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in September and finished in the top-4 in each of her three events since then. She was part of an eight-way tie for the lead after Thursday's first round, but took control during the second round with four birdies on the front nine Friday.

"For me, it just continues to give me confidence and give me the belief in what I'm doing and how I'm playing right now," Stanford said. "And going into next year, hopefully this will push me into the Top-10 in the world, I hope.

That's kind of where I wanted to be going into next year. So I'm excited."

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, making a winner out of Stanford.

"Before she hit the putt, I asked my caddie, in the playoff, do we go back to 18. So I was already prepared that she was going to make that putt," Stanford said. "I think you have to hit that putt firm, and I think she did what she had to do. I just got lucky there."

" I heard the crowd and I hit it exactly where I wanted it hit it a little to the right," Sorenstam said.

Sorenstam was looking for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season - and first since announcing she will step away from competitive golf at the end of the year. Sorenstam's last victory was the Michelob ULTRA Open in May, but since then her best finish was a third-place showing at June's LPGA Championship.

The tournament's namesake, Lorena Ochoa, carded a 70 on Sunday and tied for 14th at 4-under.

Ochoa is pulling double duty this week as she is hosting the $1 million event and playing alongside 35 other players at the Guadalajara Country Club. In search of her eighth victory of the season, Ochoa has mathematically locked up the Rolex Player of the Year honors and is the star attraction in her native Guadalajara at the third and final Mexican event on the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule.

The event is serving as the final tune-up for players competing in the 2008 ADT Championship. It is the 15th LPGA Tour event hosted by an LPGA Tour player.