Lorena Ochoa won the Canadian Women’s Open for her second straight victory and fifth of the season, closing with a 2-under-par 69 on Sunday for a three-stroke victory over Paula Creamer.
The top-ranked Mexican star, coming off her first major victory two weeks ago in the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, had a 16-under 268 total on the Royal Mayfair course in Edmonton, Alberta. She earned $337,500 to raise her tour-leading total to $2,636,590.
“It was just one of those weeks where everything was good from tee to green,” Ochoa told the cheering crowd, some waving Mexican flags, as she stood on the 18th green and struggled to lift the outsized two-handled silver mug trophy.
She has 14 victories in five full seasons on the LPGA Tour.
“It wasn’t easy,” Ochoa said. “I didn’t feel very comfortable in the morning. I wasn’t in a rhythm on the front nine, and Paula made a couple birdies to narrow the difference. And then we made the turn, and then I started feeling strong. I made a good birdie on No. 12 to get good momentum, and I think from there things kind of changed in my way to finish with a good distance.”
Creamer closed with a 68.
“I gave myself a ton of chances out there and that’s all you can ask for on Sunday. I tried my hardest,” Creamer said. “It was great to be able to play on Sunday in contention.”
Shi Hyun Ahn (66) was third at 10-under, and Brittany Lang (67) and Laura Diaz (72) followed at 9-under.
Alena Sharp was the top Canadian, closing with a 69 to tie for 10th – the Hamilton, Ontario, player’s highest tour finish – at 6-under.
“This is definitely going to give me more confidence. I know I can be one of the best players out here,” Sharp said. “I hit some great shots today. I had a couple of tap-in birdies and that always helps.”
U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr, the winner last year at London Hunt in Ontario, shot a 75 to tie for 50th at 1-over.
PGA Tour: Rookie Brandt Snedeker won his first tour title, shooting a 9-under 63 for a two-stroke victory in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
The 26-year-old former Vanderbilt player finished at 22-under 266 on the Forest Oaks course and earned $900,000.
Tim Petrovic, tied with Snedeker with two holes to play, shot a 67 to tie for second with Jeff Overton (70) and Billy Mayfair (67).
Snedeker and Petrovic were tied at 21-under with two holes to play and seemed headed to a playoff. Snedeker took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-3 17th, rolling in a 32-foot putt, and parred the 18th.
Champions Tour: Mark McNulty won The Tradition for his first tour major, shooting a 4-under 68 for a five-stroke victory over David Edwards in Sunriver, Ore.
McNulty double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Crosswater Golf Club to finish at 16-under 272. He earned $390,000 for his sixth career victory on the 50-and-over tour.
Edwards, tied for the lead with McNulty after the third round, had a 73 to finish at 11-under. D.A. Weibring was 10-under after a 72.
Nationwide Tour: Australia’s Nick Flanagan won his third tour title of the year to earn an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour, closing with a 7-under 63 to beat James Driscoll by a stroke in the Xerox Classic in Rochester, N.Y.
The 23-year-old Flanagan, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to finish at 10-under 270 on the Irondequoit Country Club course. He began the round seven strokes behind Driscoll (71).
European PGA: Finland’s Mikko Ilonen won the Scandinavian Masters by two shots when Germany’s Martin Kaymer double-bogeyed the final hole in Stockholm, Sweden.
