April 26, 2009

While the result was the same from her first win in her home country of Mexico a year ago, PING pro Lorena Ochoa's successful defense of the Corona Championship came in dramatically different fashion. The native of Guadalajara, Mexico, who cruised to an 11-shot win in 2008 to secure entrance into the World Golf Hall of Fame, birdied two of the last four holes to earn a one-shot victory. It was her second win of the season and moved her back atop the LPGA money list.

After opening rounds of eight-under-par 65s on the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club in Morelia, Mexico, Ochoa added a third round 69 to enter the last day with a one-shot lead. A back-and-forth battle that saw her tied at three different times during the final round ended in her favor with a par on the final hole.

Adding further interest to the dramatic finish was the loss of her caddy, David Brooker, for the final round. Brooker broke his foot during the traditional soccer match following the third round which left Ochoa's long-time coach, Rafael Alarcon, the obvious choice to fill in.

The win marked the 26th of Ochoa's career and strengthened her hold as the No. 1 player in the world. As she did in her win at the Honda Thailand earlier this year, Ochoa relied on 14 PING clubs. She played a Rapture Driver, a combination of S57 (6-9, PW) and S58 (4-5) Irons, a G10 3-wood, Rapture V2 20° Hybrid, three Tour-Wedges (50°, 54°, 58°) and a Redwood Piper S Putter.