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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ochoa remains dominant

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Lorena Ochoa set the silver trophy on a table, clasped hands with her parents and sprinted to the edge of the lake surrounding the 18th green at Mission Hills, raising both arms as she plunged into the water.

Whether she is playing or celebrating, the Mexican star is unstoppable.

Ochoa buried her competition Sunday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., with back-to-back birdies at the turn to build a five-shot lead, then closed with eight pars for a 5-under 67 and another romp in a major that once gave her fits.

Even more inspiring were the festivities that followed.

She joined hands with her parents and sister-in-law and raced into the water. Her brother, Alejandro, swing coach Rafael Alcaron and caddie Dave Brooker leapt from the bridge. Before long, two dozen friends and family members were bobbing in the water to the rhythm of a mariachi band, a celebration unlike any other at this major.

“I thought for a moment, ‘Maybe I should try to do something funny, like a flip or something,’ ” Ochoa said. “No, no, no. Too dangerous. So I did the regular jump. You always worry about the jump, but once you win, I don’t care.”

The ripple effect is frightening.

Ochoa became the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win two straight majors, having captured her first major in the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews last summer by four shots.

In four starts this year, she has won three tournaments by a combined 23 shots.

Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen each closed with a 68 and tied for second, although they were never close.

Ochoa, who finished at 11-under 277, never trailed under the blazing desert sun, and was threatened only briefly.

PGA

Johnson Wagner’s first PGA Tour victory came with the ultimate bonus prize – a trip to the Masters.

Wagner controlled his nerves and held off several late challenges to win the Houston Open at Humble, Texas, and earn a last-minute invitation to Augusta National.

The 28-year-old shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 16 under, two shots ahead of Chad Campbell (72) and Geoff Ogilvy (68). Billy Mayfair and Fred Couples shot 66s and finished three shots back at 13 under. Bob Estes and Charley Hoffman, three behind Wagner at the start of the round, shot 72s and finished four behind.

Champions Tour

Mark Wiebe completed a wire-to-wire victory in the inaugural Cap Cana Championship at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, closing with a 5-under-par 67 for a four-stroke victory over Vicente Fernandez.

Wiebe finished at 14-under 202 and earned $300,000 for his second win in 12 career starts on the Champions Tour. The two-time PGA Tour winner won his first Champions Tour title in his tour debut last fall in the SAS Championship.

Fernandez, who turned 62 Saturday, finished with a 65, matching the course record set Saturday by Joe Ozaki.

Jay Haas (68) and Craig Stadler (67) tied for third at 9 under, and Denis Watson (66), Fulton Allem (68), Nick Price (67) and Scott Hoch (70) followed at 8 under.