[Women’s Golf] Ochoa Wins Kraft Nabisco Championship

After Lorena Ochoa of Mexico won the Kraft Nabisco Championship Monday, she made the traditional jump into the pond off the 18th hole in this year’s first women’s major golf tournament.

In Rancho Mirage, California, Ochoa won with a four-round score of 11- under 277. About two dozen friends and family followed her into the pond after her victory, turning the pond into a crowded pool.

Ochoa has won three of her last four tournaments. She is a favorite to win the Grand Slam since she has two major titles under her belt, including the British Women’s Open in August last year.

On Monday, she beat by five strokes over Annika Sorenstam of Sweden and Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

Ochoa has won two tournaments this year by an average of 7.7 shots.

With a one-shot lead, she began the day with two consecutive birdies. Later, she birdied the eighth, ninth and tenth holes.

Ochoa is averaging 283 yards per drive (second in the LPGA), hits 75 out of 100 fairways (35th) and 81.9 out of 100 greens, and boasting 1.66 strokes per hole (first).

Lee Sun-hwa finished fifth. Han Hee-won, who had trailed Ochoa by only one shot the day before, bogeyed the seventh through ninth holes and finished tied for sixth along with Kim Mi-hyun and Choi Na-yeon.

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