Silvia Cavalleri became the first Italian to win an LPGA Tour event yesterday by shooting a 7-under-par 66 to defeat local favorite Lorena Ochoa and Julieta Granada at the Corona Championship in Morelia, Mexico.
Cavalleri had seven birdies in her final round to finish with a total 20-under 272 at the 6,600-yard Jack Nicklaus-designed Tres Marias Golf Club. She earned a $195,000 paycheck.
Ochoa, the newly crowned No. 1 women\'s golfer in the Rolex Rankings and defending champion in Mexico, finished with a 68, as did Granada
Ochoa had the crowd behind her Sunday after overcoming a poor second round performance with a brilliant 9-under-par 64 on Saturday. Thousands of fans and Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who made a surprise visit to the event, gathered at the 18th hole to cheer Ochoa with shouts of \"Mexico! Mexico!\" and \"We love you, Lorena!\"
But Ochoa\'s strong birdie finish wasn\'t enough to overcome Cavalleri, who took the lead with birdies on holes five and seven.
\"The first birdie gave me confidence. After that I was hot to win,\" Cavalleri told reporters. \"It\'s like a dream come true. I have a lot of emotions running through me. I am full of happiness.\"
Cavalleri added that she knew victory was within reach when she birdied the 17th hole.
\"It was a dramatic moment,\" she said. \"When the ball went in, I thought, \'I can win now.\'\"
President Calderon presented Cavalleri with her first LPGA Tour trophy at a ceremony after the event. He also gave Ochoa a plague honoring her ascent to No. 1 in the world.
To the delight of her countrymen, Ochoa overtook Sorenstam, who is off the LPGA Tour with an injured back, in the Rolex Rankings April 23. Sorenstam had held the top spot since the rankings debuted last year.
For more details visit - : http://www.worldgolf.com/news/lpga/lpga-tour-cavalleri-beats-ochoa-wins-corona-championship-5280.htm
April 30, 2007 Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.
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