Sorenstam puts field, and dismal 2007, behind her

Associated Press

Last update: May 12, 2008 - 12:44 AM

With her third victory in eight tries this season, Annika Sorenstam showed that she can beat the new No. 1: Lorena Ochoa.

The eight-time player of the year pulled away from Ochoa on Saturday, using her typical steadiness for a 2-under 69, then did the same to Jeong Jang on Sunday. Four birdies in five holes on the back nine left no doubt that the injuries that led to her winless 2007 are history, and that her once-unrivaled game is almost back to peak.

"The last nine holes, I just dialed it in," Sorenstam said. "The yardage was right. The club was right. The direction was right. It just felt really good, really solid."

Sorenstam shot a closing 66 in the Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Va., to obliterate Karrie Webb’s tournament record by five shots with a 265 total. Jang missed a short putt on the final hole for her first bogey in 35 holes, and dropped into a tie for second with Christina Kim (69), who made a birdie on the final hole, Allison Fouch (64) and Karen Stupples (66).

"She hit a perfect iron shot every single hole," Jang said. "Annika’s back."

Jang, playing despite having a sore wrist, made a 15-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole to get within two. Sorenstam promptly hit her approach on the par-4 sixth to within 12 feet and made it to restore the three-shot edge.

Sorenstam clinched it with three consecutive birdies beginning on the par-3 13th.

European Tour

Hennie Otto won his first European Tour title by shooting a 3-under 69 to hold off Oliver Wilson by one stroke at the Italian Open.

Otto had four birdies and a bogey at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club in Milan to finish at 25-under 263. Wilson shot an 8-under 64.

Nationwide Tour

Colt Knost, last year’s U.S. Amateur winner, won the Fort Smith (Ark.) Classic, closing out the day with a 5-under 65 to edge Darron Stiles by a stroke. Knost finished at 12-under 268.

David Lutterus (69) and Daniel Summerhays (69) finished tied for third.

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