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Lorena Ochoa Wins The Kraft Nabisco Championship by 5 Strokes

April 13th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Lorena Ochoa wins the Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., April 6, 2008 – Lorena Ochoa’s win on Sunday with an 11-under-par 277 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship could be known more for who jumped with her than how she jumped in. After receiving her trophy, Ochoa’s $300,000, five-stroke, victory leap included her, her caddie, mother, father, brother and sister-in-law … and about 15 other friends and family obviously enjoying themselves.

Ochoa buried her competition Sunday in the final round with back-to-back birdies at the turn to build a five-shot lead, then closed with eight pars for a 5-under 67 to clinch her second major in a row. Ochoa became the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win two straight majors, having captured her first major in the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews last summer by four shots.

In four starts this year, she has won three tournaments by a combined 23 shots.

“Nothing can stop her,” said Se Ri Pak, who became the youngest player inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, a record that certainly will be broken by the 26-year-old Ochoa.

Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen each closed with a 68 and tied for second, although they were never close.

Ochoa has been coming to The Nabisco since she was an amateur and bringing what seems like half of Mexico with her. She spent Wednesday morning meeting with the maintenance staff at Mission Hills, helping them cook breakfast and thanking them for their hard work in preparing the course.

Sorenstam, who battled a stomach virus on the weekend, tried to give Ochoa a run but could never get closer than three shots. She closed with a 68 and tied for second with Pettersen, who also had a 68.

Ochoa earned $300,000 for her 20th victory, and is one point away from the performance criteria of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She could get that next week with a victory in Mexico, although Ochoa would have to wait until she completes 10 years on the LPGA Tour, which would be 2012.

The final top 10 result was:

Position Player Score

1 Lorena Ochoa -11

2 Annika Sorensatam -6

2 Suzann Pettersen -6

4 Maria Hjorth -5

5 Seon Hwa Lee -4

6 Mi Hyun Kim -3

6 Na Yeon Choi -3

6 Hee-Won Han -3

9 Inbee Park -2

10 Se Ri Pak -1