Championships - RICOH Women's British Open 2007
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MEL REID WINNER OF THE SMYTH SALVER FOR LEADING AMATEUR
05.08.2007
Lorena Ochoa wins first major title at Home of Golf
The Mexican World No. 1 started the day with a six shot lead over Sweden’s Linda Wessberg and never looked like relinquishing that advantage with a controlled performance that saw her finish four shots ahead of Korea’s Jee Young Lee and Sweden’s Maria Hjorth and five in front of America’s Reilley Rankin.It was a result that netted the delightful 26 year-old from Guadalajara a cheque for £160,000 and gave her the first Major title of her illustrious career.
The victory also made her just the second golfer of Mexican descent to win a Major after the great Lee Trevino who won two Opens, two US Opens and two USPGA title s in the 1960s and 1970s.
Twice before in Majors Ochoa had gone into the final round with the lead only to let it slip away. This time, however, there was no late lapse. She birdied the 514-yard to regain her overnight advantage and when she also birdied both sixth and ninth it allowed her the odd hiccup coming home, most notably at the infamous Road Hole where only a magnificent fourth shout from deep in the left rough enabled her not to record a score worse than bogey six.
“I feel my time has come,” she said moments after collecting the new trophy specially commissioned by Ricoh.
“Last Monday, when I started practising, I believed I was going to win, but not until the 18th tee shot did I know I had.
“There were a lot of people saying I wasn’t good enough to win a Major, or that I couldn’t win a Major. I have always understood those comments because I hadn’t won. Now, this is a big step forward for me and there’s no more to say.
“I love St Andrews,” she added. “I love to make history and that is what I have done, It (this victory) is going to be there for the rest of my life. It’s been a very special week.”
The best rounds of the day came from Scotland’s Mhairi McKay and Japan’s Miki Saiki who tied Ochoa’s first round score when they went out early in the morning and posted rounds of six under par 67 that saw them leapfrog into the top-20 on the leaderboard.
The Smyth Salver awarded to the leading amateur was won by English girl Melissa Reid from Chevin Golf Club in Derbyshire who closed with a one under par 72 to finish the Championship on 296.
Reid’s nearest challenger was Kerry Smith from Waterlooville who closed with an impressive three under par 70 to join the group on nine under par 301.
“It’s great to win the amateur prize and particularly because it’s here at St Andrews,” said the youngster who won the St Rule Trophy over the same course earlier on this year.
“Scotland has been very kind to me,” she added. “I love the golf course here. There’s nowhere else you find greens quite like these. It’s a real challenge. It’s very exciting and I just love playing it.”
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