Ochoa powers to seven-stroke victory

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Arizona -- Lorena Ochoa retained her Safeway International crown in dominant fashion on Sunday, posting a seven-stroke victory in the $1.5 million LPGA event.

The world number one from Mexico, who led by one shot at the start of the round, fired a six-under-par 66 for a 22-under total of 266 -- four strokes better than her winning total last year.

South Korean Jee Young Lee, who birdied 18 for a 72, finished second on 15-under 273 with Finland's Minea Blomqvist third on 14-under 274 after a round of 67.

Ochoa, 26, was notching her 19th LPGA title and her second of 2008. She opened her season with a victory in the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore earlier this month.

Former world number one Annika Sorenstam (70) finished in a tie for ninth on 11-under in a group that also included British veteran Laura Davies.

Ochoa never lost her lead on the final day. After two birdies and two bogeys in her first six holes, Ochoa sank back-to-back birdies of 12 meters on eight and nine.

On 13 she knocked a pitching wedge to 10 meters to ignite a run of three birdies in a row, and she finished the day with a two-putt birdie from 25 meters on the par-five 18th.

"It was a great day, especially the back nine," she said. "Front nine was a little bit up and down. I think being in the last group with the pressure and the wind, it was a little tough, but then I told myself just be patient.

"I was hitting the ball really good and then I made great birdies on eight and nine -- from there everything went a little bit easier," added Ochoa. E-mail to a friend