GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Annika Sorenstam nearly holed her third shot on the par-5 18th, then lipped out a 9-foot birdie attempt to give Angela Stanford a one-stroke victory Sunday in the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
Sorenstam, making her second-to-last start before she leaves the LPGA Tour, holed out from a bunker for birdie on the par-3 16th to get to 12-under — a stroke behind Stanford — but settled for pars on the final two holes. On the 18th, her wedge shot rolled just by the side of the cup as it spun back down the green.
Stanford closed with a 3-under 69 and a 13-under 275 total for her third LPGA Tour title.
Sorenstam, a 72-time LPGA Tour winner coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago in China in a Ladies European Tour event, also finished with a 69.
“I would have been a little nervous in that playoff just because it’s Annika,” Stanford said. “There was a moment there where I thought, ‘Hmmm, I’d rather not have a playoff.’ ”
Sorenstam tied for second with Brittany Lang, who shot a course-record 65. Ochoa shot a 70 to tie for 14th at 4-under.
Stanford two-putted for par on 18 before Sorenstam missed her birdie try.
“I had done such a good job all day of staying in the moment and kind of prepared myself for the playoff,” Stanford said.
Jeev Singh wins by one.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh closed with a 2-under 69 to win the Singapore Open by one stroke ahead of Ernie Els (71) and Padraig Harrington (70).
Chapchai Nirat, who led going into the final round, had a 78 and finished at 3-under to share seventh place with Thomas Bjorn. Phil Mickelson, ranked No. 3 in the world, shot 75 and finished ninth.
