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Stanford holds off Sorenstam to take title

Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam lifts up her ball after a butterfly perched on it on the third green during the final round of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Angela Stanford of the US 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-five 18th hole of the US$1 million event to win her third career US LPGA title.

“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 on 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 focused and happy and tried not to look at scoreboard,” she said.

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 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 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,” she said.
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