Lorena Ochoa wins 2007 CN Canadian Women’s Open

- Click here to view official results -

Edmonton, Alta. (RCGA) – World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa continued her domination of the LPGA Tour firing a 2-under 69 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club Sunday to win the 2007 CN Canadian Women’s Open.

With the victory, Ochoa earns the $337,500 (US) champions’ purse to raise her 2007 LPGA Tour earnings to over $2.6 million (US). The victory is Ochoa’s 5th of the season and 14th of her 5-year career. No player has dominated women’s golf like the Mexican sensation who has captured 11 of her 14 career wins over the past two seasons. She is also the only LPGA Tour player over the past two years to post back-to-back victories.

“When you win a golf tournament, the next week it's really tough because a lot of things happen, a lot of interviews, you are tired physically and mentally, and those are the things I've been learning through the years,” said Ochoa, who began this week’s event in Edmonton fresh off her first major victory at the Women’s British Open. “I think at this point I'm ready to instead of struggle the week after, I’m able to carry that good momentum and keep it going.”

For Ochoa, the atmosphere at Royal Mayfair was as electric as any event on Tour.

“I think it was just an amazing day either way,” added Ochoa, who finished the week at 16-under. “The crowds were amazing. Paula and I talked about it, and we were like, this is for sure a major tournament. It's just amazing. The first hole was surrounded by people, and you don't see that very often. It was a very special week.”

Paul Creamer finished alone in second at 13-under after firing a final-round 3-under 68. With her runner-up finish, Creamer crossed the $1 million mark in season earnings for the third year in a row.

Shi Hyun Ahn finished alone in third at 10-under for the tournament while Brittany Lang and Laura Diaz tied for fourth at 9-under.

Ya Ni Tseng topped off a stellar week in Edmonton with a share of 6th at 8-under. The 18-year old Tseng, who received a sponsor’s exemption earlier this summer by virtue of winning the CN Canadian Women’s Tour event at the Vancouver Golf Club, made a statement in her first LPGA Tour event that she is on the path to great things with her young career.

Seon Hwa Lee had the round the of the day Sunday equaling the course record of 7-under 64 set Friday by Karrie Webb then matched Saturday by Ochoa.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. had her best career finish at Canada’s only LPGA Tour event capping an impressive week with a final-round 69 and tournament-total 6-under. With her share of 10th position, Sharp had her best career LPGA Tour finish to date.

“I was really surprised at how calm I was today,” said Sharp. “I just played my game, and I hit some great shots today and I had a couple threeputts, but other than that it was a great round of golf. And to do it on a Sunday here in front of the home crowd, it's an amazing feeling.”

Nancy Harvey of Swift Current, Sask. had her best round of the week with a 3-under 68. Following her round, the Canadian veteran hinted that Royal Mayfair may well be her final LPGA Tour appearance.

“It’s not a done deal exactly, but it's pretty much a done deal. I need to move along and do some other things,” said Harvey. “My dad told me one time that I could walk away at any time and hold my head high because I've done something that I love to do, it's my passion in life, and regardless of whether the day is nice, ugly, raining, sunshine, heat, whatever, I can always be proud because I've enjoyed my walk.”

A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C. shot a final-round 3-over 74 to finish the week at 7-over.

Edmonton golf fans continued to show their support for the CN Canadian Women’s Open as Sunday’s final round attendance was 17,500. The final-round showing boosted total attendance for the week to a record-setting 64,850, topping last year’s total of 61,000 at the London Hunt and Country Club.

Canada’s only LPGA Tour event moves to the nation’s capital next year as the 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open is set for August 11-17 at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. For corporate hospitality or ticket information, please call 1-866-571-LPGA or visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.

THE FOLLOWING ARE FINAL-ROUND CANADIAN SCORES FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2007. (6,505 yards / Par 71)

Alena Sharp 70-72-67-69 (-6)
Nancy Harvey 72-73-70-68 (-1)
A.J. Eathorne 73-72-72-74 (+7)

--missed 36-hole cut --

Dawn Coe-Jones 74-72 (+4)
Cindy Pasechnik 74-73 (+5)
Kira Meixner 77-71 (+6)
Marie-Josee Rouleau 75-74 (+7)
Jessica Potter 79-70 (+7)
Kim Brozer 74-78 (+10)
Lorie Kane 75-77 (+10)
Lisa Meldrum 73-80 (+11)
Stephanie Sherlock 82-72 (+12)
Jeanette Kerr 78-78 (+14)
Christine Boucher 80-77 (+15)
Jade Polonich 84-82 (+24)

MIRACLE MATCH RAISES $505,000 FOR STOLLERY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
CN Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing James M. Foote presented a cheque representing the proceeds of the CN Miracle Match campaign to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation during Sunday’s final round. A cheque for $505,000 (CDN) was presented to Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation on behalf of the CN Canadian Women’s Open and the CN Miracle Match Program.

MEDIA CENTRE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCIPTS
Saturday interview audio and video transcripts of Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Alena Sharp, Nancy Harvey, Cristie Kerr and A.J. Eathorne are available on line at www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.

ABOUT THE 2007 CN CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN
Stars of the LPGA Tour were featured at the $2.25 million (US) CN Canadian Women’s Open from August 13-19 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta. This year marked the 35th anniversary of the LPGA Tour in Canada. The CN Canadian Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by Canadian National Railway Company as well as the City of Edmonton, Penfolds, Molson Canada, Tabi, Sony, Coca-Cola, Alberta Cadillac Dealers, CVS Controls Ltd., and Encana. For updated tournament information please visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.

NORTH AMERICA’S RAILROAD
CN – Canadian National Railway Company – spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For further information please visit www.cn.ca.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,650 clubs across the country. Some of the RCGA’s core services include the Rules of Golf, handicapping and course rating, support of turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while six regional junior championships, 10 national amateur championships and the CN Canadian Women’s Tour showcase the best of Canadian golf. For more information please visit www.rcga.org.

Media Contacts:

Anthony Alfred
Director, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
(t) 780-409-3405 (media centre)
(e) aalfred@rcga.org
(c) 416-819-0286

Dan Pino
Manager, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
(t) 780-409-3405 (media centre)
(e) dpino@rcga.org
(c) 416-434-5525