Ward ends victory drought
Wendy Ward claimed her first LPGA Tour victory in four years at the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas.
Ward held at least a share of the lead for all three rounds, and her five-under-par 67 on the final day gave her a three-round total of 16-under 200 - two shots clear of Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa.
“I kind of turned it on the last few holes and hit some really good iron shots coming in,” Ward said. “I’m just tickled with the way I played.”
Ochoa was again on fire, following a tournament-record 63 on Friday with a seven-under 65.
“I am pretty happy. It would have almost been too much to win this week but I was close,” Ochoa said. “I tried really hard.
“I had many chances today to make birdie and had a couple lip out.”
Ward was just as solid, carding another bogey-free round and answering Ochoa’s birdie at the 16th with a 10-foot birdie of her own to help ensure her first LPGA victory since the 2001 Wendy’s Championship.
Paula Creamer and Korea’s Shi Hyun Ahn also took a run at Ward but came up short and finished tied for third at 13 under.
The 18-year-old Creamer fired seven birdies without a bogey while Ahn tied Ochoa’s tournament mark of 63.
Ahn’s sizzling round included six consecutive birdies starting on the par-four fifth hole, as well as birdies at the 12th, 15th and 18th.
Defending champion Cristie Kerr shot a 72 and finished tied for 56th at one under.
