Thompson Wins LPGA Event in Mexico

Thanks to a 5-foot birdie putt on the final hole, Lexi Thompson earned a one-shot win over Stacy Lewis on Sunday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Thompson, an 18-year-old Floridian, earned the third LPGA Tour victory of her career, her second in two months. She recently won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

A final-round, 3-under-par 69 was enough for Thompson to edge Lewis, a 28-year-old Ohio native who shot a 68 on Sunday. Thompson finished at 16-under 272, while Lewis wound up at 15-under 273.

So Yeon Ryu of South Korea fired a fourth-round 69 to come in third at 275. Inbee Park of South Korea took fourth at 277 after a 70, and she clinched the Rolex Player of the Year award. Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who was aiming to catch Park for the top spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, tied for fifth at 278 after shooting 70 on Sunday.

Thompson saw her lead expand to three shots when Lewis bogeyed the par-4 11th hole. However, Lewis rebounded with birdies on 12th, 13th and 14th holes. That string of success, coupled with Thompson’s bogey on the par-4 12th, saw Lewis take a one-stroke lead.

“Stacy is an amazing player,” Thompson said. “I knew she could make a run at me anytime during that round. When she made the two shot swing on me, I think on No. 12, it brought it back to all squared. I knew I had to make birdies on top of her because she gets on a roll and she doesn’t stop. She’s an amazing player and played great today.”

Lewis faltered at No. 17, though, bogeying the par-3 hole to send the tournament to the 72nd hole with the two players tied. Lewis parred the closing par 5, just missing a par putt, while Thompson sank her birdie putt.

“First off, I had like a 50 to 60 footer for the first (putt), which was interesting getting up there within a few feet,” Thompson said. “You know on the second putt, that’s what it all came down to thinking I can make it and went up to it confidently. Just knock it in.”

Rounding out the top 10 were Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, who tied Pettersen for fifth at 278, and five players who tied for seventh at 279: Amy Yang of South Korea, Michelle Wie of Hawaii, Azahara Munoz of Spain, Lizette Salas of California and I.K. Kim of South Korea.