Ochoa wins Navistar Classic in playoff

Sep 29, 2008 - 1:36 AM PRATTVILLE, Alabama (Ticker) -- Lorena Ochoa had to work overtime on Sunday to get her first win in more than four months.

Ochoa outlasted Candie Kung and Cristie Kerr and won the Navistar Classic for her seventh victory of the year. The world's top-ranked player won for the first time since May with a 2-foot par putt on the second playoff hole.

Ochoa closed with a 2-under-par 70 to finish at 15-under 273 along with Kung (67) and Kerr (66), who was knocked out of the playoff with a bogey on the first hole.

"Being four back, I felt I was fortunate to get in the playoff," Kerr said. "But once you're in there, you figure 'Just give me the ball' and unfortunately I didn't deliver."

Ochoa opened the season with six wins in nine events before cooling off. She had failed to record a victory in her last seven starts before this week's triumph.

"I am happy. It wasn't easy," Ochoa said. "I had a few chances to win tournaments before, and it's been a little slow in the last few months. I'm glad I did it this week and hopefully get in a good rhythm to keep it going and finish strong here."

Song-Hee Kim and Shanshan Feng tied for fourth at 14-under.

Ochoa eagled the par-5 eighth and had a bogey and a birdie in the final round. She finished with six straight pars including two in the playoff that earned her the $210,000 first prize.

"I think especially this one is going to be a good one for me," Ochoa said. "I had a slow summer, and I'm just trying to come back and come strong and it's an important win for my career."

Ochoa two-putted from just off the back of the green on the second playoff hole and won when Kung three-putted from 30 feet.

"It's been a very good experience for me this week. I haven't played this well for a long time," Kung said. "And it's been solid four days, I would say, or three and a half at least. It was fun in the playoffs with Lorena and Cristie. I'd just love to be in this position more often."