Nicole Castrale parred the first playoff to edge world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa on Sunday in the US$2.6 million LPGA Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam.
Castrale erased a three-shot deficit, firing a final-round 71 that included three birdies to pull even with overnight leader Ochoa, last year's LPGA Player of the Year who this season ended Sorenstam's lengthy tenure atop the world rankings.
"You know, I think I don't quite know how to feel. I think it will start to set in here in a couple of hours when I start talking to family and friends," Castrale said.
"You know, it's definitely a dream of mine and I'm just going to enjoy it," she said.
Ochoa carded a 74, opening the door to Castrale with bogeys at 16 and 17. They finished the round tied on 279.
When they returned to the 18th tee the Mexican landed her tee shot in pampas grass behind the hazard line and was forced to take a penalty drop that left her with a difficult third shot out of the left hillside rough.
Castrale, meanwhile, split the fairway with her tee shot and reached the green in two.
Ochoa did well to get on the green with her third shot, leaving herself a 7m shot for par that she had to make after Castrale two-putted from 10m.
As Ochoa's attempt slid by the cup, Castrale buried her face in her hands. The 28-year-old became the sixth first-time winner on the LPGA tour this year.
US player Cristie Kerr was third with 282 and Paula Creamer of the US and South Korean Sarah Lee shared fourth at 283.
"Obviously big mistake on 16 making that bogey," Ochoa said. "That was the hole I lost the tournament. So there's nothing I can really say. Nicole made a great birdie on 17, so you know, she deserves it. She played very solid with the wind and she was always very patient and great win for her."
Castrale said it was "very fulfilling" to earn her first win against the best player on the Tour.
"To beat Lorena ... the odds weren't on my side for sure." she said. "My goal really going into today was to give myself a chance to win on the back nine. So really, to stay close enough to Lorena."
"It was really weird, I had an eerie calmness about me all week and it paid off," she said. "I wish I could duplicate that more often. Not quite sure why I was so calm but I was very at peace out there.
"I just wanted to enjoy it and whatever happened, happened," she said.
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