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Brittany Lincicome captures LPGA Ginn Open title

As former world No. 1 Laura Davies and aspiring No. 1 Lorena Ochoa faltered, Brittany Lincicome of the US seized her chance to capture the US$2.6 million LPGA Ginn Open.

Lincicome, 20, held on through a storm delay and then brutal winds to card an even par 72 for 10-under 278 and a one-shot victory over Ochoa, who posted a 77 for 279.

"I never really thought that I had a chance when we set out today," said Lincicome, who started the day four shots adrift and had three birdies and three bogeys in her effort.

"But level par was always a score that looked good in these conditions," she said.

Davies, winner of more than 60 career titles worldwide, finished with a 79 for 281 for third place.

England's Davies and Mexico's Ochoa had shared the lead after every round and through much of Sunday's wind-whipped fourth round at the Reunion resort.

Ochoa dropped four shots in four holes with a double-bogey at 13 and bogeys at 15 and 16, leaving her tied with Lincicome one shot behind Davies heading to the 17th.

It was there that Davies' chance at her first US victory since 2001 slipped through her fingers. After hitting her third shot over the green she pitched back to 1.6m, but three-putted for a double-bogey seven at the par-five hole and fell one shot behind Ochoa and Lincicome.

All three failed to find the fairway at 18, but Lincicome made the best recovery. Davies' bid to blast out of a bunker failed to get enough loft to get over the bunker's lip.

Ochoa, meanwhile, was in the left rough off the tee and a bunker with her second shot. Her third shot rolled back into the fringe, while Lincicome managed to get her second shot from the rough to the back of the green.

Lincicome barely missed her par attempt but a closing bogey was good enough as Ochoa wound up with a double-bogey and Davies a disappointing triple-bogey finish.

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