Sweden's Sophie Gustafson captures first LPGA win in six years

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Sweden's Sophie Gustafson captures first LPGA win in six years



Sun Sep 27, 8:26 PM

By Janie Mccauley, The Associated Press


DANVILLE, Calif. - Sophie Gustafson is finally an LPGA Tour winner again, cruising to a four-stroke victory over top-ranked Lorena Ochoa in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge on Sunday.

The 35-year-old Swede shot a 4-under 68 at Blackhawk Country Club and finished at 20-under 268 to win her first title since the 2003 Samsung World Championship. She takes home the US$165,000 winning purse for her fifth career tour victory.

She beamed while walking across the bridge to the 18th green, even high-fiving a tournament official. Once it was official, she shared a long embrace with her caddie.

The five-foot-10 Gustafson, who overcame her first two bogeys on the front nine all week, never dazzled but she didn't have to be on a day Ochoa struggled to putt. Gustafson gained a stroke on Ochoa with her birdie on No. 13.

Ochoa shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to finish at 16 under. She's winless in 11 starts since taking the Corona Championship in her native Mexico in late April. She has only two victories in 16 events this year after winning 21 times in the previous three years.

She lost here in a playoff to Suzann Pettersen in 2007 and was fourth last year.

Amy Yang began the day tied for ninth and shot a 66, but never got closer, She tied for third with Sun Young Yoo (68) at 14 under.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton hit a 72 to finish tied for 24th.