Ai Miyazato of Japan won her third tournament of the LPGA season, shooting a 6-under 67 to take the Tres Marias Championship by one stroke on Sunday in the final tournament for top-ranked Lorena Ochoa.
Miyazato was 19-under 273 to finish a shot ahead of Stacy Lewis (66) of the US and two in front of Michelle Wie (68), but the win was overshadowed by Ochoa’s last round before stepping into retirement to raise a family and focus on her charity foundation.
Ochoa shot a 71 to finish sixth at 12 under.
PHOTO: EPA
During the trophy ceremony on the 18th green, Miyazato broke down crying as she thanked Ochoa. Ochoa, a few feet away, also rubbed tears from her eyes.
Ochoa choose Miyazato as her playing partner for the first two rounds.
“I want to say thanks to Lorena,” Miyazato said. “I really appreciate what she did for the LPGA and what she did for her country here in Mexico.”
“She is one of my best friends,” Miyazato added, beginning to cry. “I’m going to miss her.”
Ochoa won 27 tournaments, including two majors, and won the Player of the Year title four straight years.
“For the last eight years all of you have been there,” Ochoa said, sobbing as she spoke to fellow players. “First when I got here everybody was friendly and welcoming. So thanks for being friends, for the inspiration. It is hard to put into words, but this has been eight years of a lot of fun and I made friends I will never forget in my life.”
Ochoa was married in December. She has talked often about wanting children, but she told a news conference last week in Mexico City that she was not pregnant.
Ochoa found time for everyone, even on the final day of her career.
Approaching the second green, she stopped to embrace fellow player Christina Kim, who ran from the eighth green to hug her.
“I’m not going to be able to wait to see her when she finishes, so I wanted to do it here,” Kim said.
Elizabeth Arroyo and husband Jose drove three hours from the city of Guanajuato.
“Lorena is important for golf, but she is more important for the image of women in Mexico,” Elizabeth said.
All day, the crowds chanted “Go Lore!” or “You can do it!” Near the ninth tee hundreds of fans held up red, yellow, blue and pink cards spelling out “Lorena.”
As she walked up the 18th fairway, thousands began waving white handkerchiefs — like they do at a bullfight to salute the bullfighter — and shouted “Lo-Re-Na! “Lo-Re-Na!”
“With all these great players in the world, I don’t know who is going to be No. 1,” Miyazato said. “But if I do as well as Lorena has done throughout the years, I think I could be No. 1 just like her.”
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