Wendy's Championship for Children
Tartan Fields Golf Club
Dublin, Ohio
August 27, 2006

Final-round interviews: Lorena Ochoa | Stacy Prammanasudh | Jee Young Lee
Final-round notes>>

Ochoa orders up sixth career win at Wendy's Championship for Children

DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 27, 2006 – Lorena Ochoa won the Wendy's Championship for Children by three shots over rookie Jee Young Lee and Stacy Prammanasudh for her third win of the year, which ties her with Karrie Webb for the most wins on Tour this year.

More importantly, the victory propelled the 24-year-old past Webb to the top spot on both the ADT Official Money List and the Rolex Player of the Year standings.

“ That's probably the highest goal you can accomplish,” said Ochoa, who has earned $1,840,774 this year and is now within striking distance to join Annika Sorenstam as the only player to earn more than $2 million in a single season. “ I've been trying to be good for the whole year, but right now it doesn't mean anything. I need to go all the way to November (and the end of the season).”

Ochoa trailed Lee and Soo-Yun Kang by two after 36 holes, but pulled away from the field on the weekend. She was bogey-free on Saturday and Sunday and was 15-under-par during that span.

“ It's nice not to make any bogeys,” said Ochoa, who now has six career wins and $5,317,103 in not even four complete years on Tour. “ I played really smart. When I needed to put a bunch of birdies together, I did that.”

She certainly did. Ochoa ended the event with a tournament-best 27 birdies and only three bogeys to finish at 24-under-par 264, which ties the fourth best score in relation to par in LPGA history and is the lowest score to win an LPGA event since Cristie Kerr shot 24-under-par to claim the 2004 State Farm Classic.

Lee was Ochoa's biggest adversary and after a birdie on 12, both her and Ochoa were tied at 22-under-par. Ochoa quickly birdied 13 and 14 and a Lee bogey on 16 essentially ended the tournament. Still, the first-year player from South Korea, who won the 2005 CJ Nine Bridges Classic Presented by Sports Today as a non-LPGA member, was pleased with her performance.

“ I don't think that I lost today,” said Lee, who is third in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race. “I played well, but Lorena played better than me, so I learned a lot today.”

Prammanasudh birdied 18 for a final round 8-under-par 64 to pull herself into a tie for second with Lee. It was the best finish of the year for the fourth-year professional.

“You know Lorena is going to go out there and play a great round,” said Prammanasudh, who moved from 20 th to 18 th on the ADT Official Money List and has now earned $487,549 this year. “I played a great round of golf. I didn't make many mistakes out there. I couldn't ask for anything more.”

Rookie Ai Miyazato finished alone in fourth at 271 (-17) for her fifth top-10 finish this year. Diana D'Alessio placed fifth at 273 (-15) to record her best finish of the year. The $45,594 she earned nearly totals the $54,428 she earned in her previous 17 starts this year.

Ochoa's lowest rounds this year
Score Round Event (Finish)
62 1 Kraft Nabisco Championship (2)
63 1 LPGA Takefuji Classic (1)
64 1 Fields Open in Hawaii (T4)
64 3 Wendy's Championship for Children (1)
65 2 SBS Open at Turtle Bay (T2)
65 3 Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill (T2)
65 3 Weetabix Women's British Open (T4)
65 4 Wendy's Championship for Children (1)
66 4 Franklin American Mortgage Championship (T2)
66 1 Evian Masters (5)
66 4 Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open (T2)
66 3 Sybase Classic Presented by Lincoln Mercury (1)

Final-round notes>>
Ochoa leads ADT Official Money List, Rolex Player of Year and Vare Trophy standings. Lorena Ochoa's victory at the Wendy's Championship for Children has her in line to win her first ADT Official Money List title, Rolex Player of the Year award and Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. The win helped the fourth-year pro pass Karrie Webb on both the ADT Official Money List and Rolex Player of the Year standings and lowered her season scoring average from 69.8103 to 69.5645. Ochoa has now earned $1,840,774 this year and has a $132,021 lead over Webb. In the Rolex Player of the Year race, Ochoa has 207 points to Webb's 184. You do not have to search too long to find out who the last person was to win the ADT Official Money List, Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy in the same season. Sixty-eight time LPGA winner Annika Sorenstam accomplished the feat last year, as well as in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2002.

Ochoa earns third stay at Canyon Ranch. In addition to winning the Wendy's Championship for Children and a $165,000 paycheck, six-time LPGA Tour winner Lorena Ochoa also earned her third all-inclusive stay for two at a Canyon Ranch resort. In a combined effort to promote health and overall well-being among Tour players, Canyon Ranch will provide every winner of an LPGA event with an all-inclusive stay at one of Canyon Ranch's two destination resorts. Ochoa received her two previous stays for victories at the LPGA Takefuji Classic and the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury.

Ochoa pads State Farm LPGA Series Bonus Pool lead. Wendy's Championship for Children winner Lorena Ochoa increased her lead to more 150 points in the 2005 State Farm LPGA Series Bonus Pool with only one event to play. The Series, which ends this week with the State Farm Classic, awards $250,000 to the player that accumulates the most points in seven LPGA events that are televised on the ESPN network. Ochoa has 340 points, while last year's winner Cristie Kerr is second with 190 points and Paula Creamer is third with 182 points. Despite the significant lead, Ochoa cannot cash the $250,000 check just yet. Points are tripled at the State Farm Classic, meaning that the money is still up for grabs this week.

Kung's 28 ties LPGA record. Candie Kung carded birdie on eight of her first nine holes during the third round of the Wendy's Championship for Children en-route to an LPGA record tying 28 (-8). Kung began her round on the tenth tee and birdied her first five holes before taking a par on the par-3 15 th (her sixth hole of the round). Kung then closed out her front nine with three more birdies to make the turn 28 (-8). The 8-under-par ties the LPGA all-time record for the low nine-hole score in relation to par and Kung is only the sixth player to shoot 8-under for nine holes. The 28 is also the second-lowest raw score ever signed for over nine holes. Jimin Kang holds the record with a 27 (-8), which she shot last year at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Final-round interviews: Lorena Ochoa | Stacy Prammanasudh | Jee Young Lee

Lorena Ochoa, 67-68-64-65=264 (-24)

Scorecard: Hole 4, 503-yard par 5: birdie – 3-wood to 25 feet, two-putt
Hole 5, 421-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to one foot
Hole 7, 395-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to 15 feet
Hole 9, 461-yard par 5: birdie – 3-wood to 25 feet, two-putt
Hole 10, 380-yard par 4: birdie – 9-iron hit the flag and rolled to 10 feet
Hole 13, 377-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to six feet
Hole 14, 549-yard par 5: birdie – 50-degree wedge to 15 feet

PAUL ROVNAK: Lorena, congratulations on your third win of the year, the sixth of your career. It took a lot of birdies to get it done but you finished at 24‑under par. That's the fourth lowest score in relation to par in LPGA history. Go ahead and talk about your win and we'll take some questions.
LORENA OCHOA: Hello. I enjoyed my weekend very much. It was a lot of fun to be able to make so many birdies. It was close for a moment when we were both 22‑under. I was very calm and I though she's made too many birdies. It's my turn to make them and finish strong. So that made a difference, the way I finished. I was very comfortable. I'm really excited about the day. We were really lucky with the weather. I'm glad we were able to finish 18 holes, have a normal tournament, a normal Sunday. It's my first time in my experience coming in with a lead and winning the tournament, so it's something to learn and it was a special win for me.

Q. When you were tied at 22, I think that was through 12 holes, perhaps, can you go over what happened on 13 and 14? And was it almost like match play at that point because you knew you were tied for the lead with her?
LORENA OCHOA: In the morning I just tried to play my own game. I just kept telling myself, 5‑under you'll be fine. It doesn't matter if you start with four birdies, just be calm and play your own game. The way she started playing No. 8, she birdied, and then the eagle on No. 9. From then on, like you say, it was more like a match play. We both made birdies on No. 10. It felt like it, it's kind of like a different feeling. You look at the score board, and everybody is three, four shots behind, and there's only two players. It's relief to have so many players behind, but she made a really good birdie on 13 ‑‑

PAUL ROVNAK: She birdied 12 and then you birdied 13 and 14.
LORENA OCHOA: Okay, No. 12. So from there I didn't even think about her or the scores, just be calm, be patient, finish strong. I never lost my control. I was feeling good and knowing what I needed to do.

Q. Fundamentally, what did you do best today? What was the best part of your game?
LORENA OCHOA: I think my putts. I didn't hit as close as I did yesterday, but I was most of the time about 10, 12, 15 feet, and I kept making good putts. That was key for me.

Q. You talked about being in really good control of yourself all day. Were you close to being in trouble at all the last two days at any point? Have you ever played a tournament like this that well, that much in control?
LORENA OCHOA: No, first time. It's nice not to make any bogeys. It feels really good. I played really smart. When I needed to put a bunch of birdies together, I did that. I think Dave really helped me. I really enjoyed the week with him. He's very patient. He's calm, which I like that. He gives you confidence. He helped me with some technical, just club selection. I like that. It was the first week together, the first win, and hopefully we get many more.

Q. 14 Top‑10s, three wins, and at the top of the money list. Is this the best you've ever played in terms of just week in, week out? In your career, is this you've ever played?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes. I think this has been for me a great year because I've played consistent golf. For me, that was the goal at the beginning of the year, just to be consistent. It really helped me, just my mindset, to be motivated every week. My goal is to be at the top of the money list in November, so I'm going to stay focused and keep doing the same thing.

Q. Is there a story behind why Reilley Rankin wanted to douse you with champagne?
LORENA OCHOA: We roomed together this week. She was my roommate. She's good luck for me. We're good friends. We help each other just trying to keep ourselves in good shape and motivate ourselves. It's good to have friends around.

Q. How important is it, in Mexico you are respected as someone who doesn't think of herself as better than anybody and you sort of are a celebrity of the people. Does that make sense?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't understand the question.

Q. In Mexico, you are, I guess, the biggest thing in Mexico as far as a sports celebrity, but it seems, in talking to the people out here who followed you, you don't think of yourself ‑‑ you don't have an arrogance about you. How important is that that you are respected there?
LORENA OCHOA: In Mexico, soccer is everything. Golf is like 1 percent. I feel very fortunate just to have so much support and attention from the media, from my sponsors and everybody. It's been great. I'm very proud to be Mexican. We're all learning. Everything is new for everybody. I think it's exciting for everybody. Also, it's good to have change. Before it was just soccer, soccer, and soccer, and now it's something new. They recognize me over there. It's very nice to go home and feel warm and the support. I have fans in the United States. The workers on the golf course and people on the outside, it's very nice to see them. They know about me and they come and support me. That makes a big difference.

Q. Before you sunk the last putt on No. 18, you flipped your ball marker and caught it. How often do you do that on the course and when did you start picking that up?
LORENA OCHOA: I do it all the time, for a long time, maybe three or four years.

Q. What happens if you miss, you don't catch it?
LORENA OCHOA: I pick it up. I miss many times. It's just something I like to do to feel relaxed.

Q. The conditions today with the soft and wet greens, do you think that played in your favor in shooting another low round, or are you just hitting the ball so well?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes. It was playing longer. We didn't get any roll today. But at the same time, in your mind it's easier because you can go for the hole and the ball will be fine. You can be more aggressive. Like I said yesterday, I needed to play aggressive today because this is an easy course. Many players can jump and be close to you. That was the idea, just be aggressive and try to make as many birdies as we could.

Q. Did you set a target score knowing that you had to go low again to win?
LORENA OCHOA: I tried to go 10‑under to break the record. You just try not to think about that so much in winning the tournament. You shoot whatever you need to shoot to win. It doesn't matter if it's 1‑under, 3‑under, 5‑under.

Q. 10‑under to break the LPGA record or the one‑round record?
LORENA OCHOA: Yesterday I was one short of the record. I tried to do it today. I'll try again next year.

Q. What does it mean to you to be the leading money winner certainly at this stage, but at the end of the year also?
LORENA OCHOA: Very much. That's probably, so far as a professional, the highest goal you can accomplish. I worked really hard in the off season and I've been trying to be good for the whole year. So right now it doesn't mean anything. I need to go all the way to November, but that would be a really, really high, you know, a dream, a completion in my career.

Q. You had mentioned Lee eagled hole 9. What was going through your head at that moment, going into the back nine with her coming on pretty strong there? What were you thinking at that time?
LORENA OCHOA: Sometimes when you are playing and things are going your way, they just keep going your way. And for her, it was very easy. She kept hitting them really close to the hole and making them. She almost made two on a par 5. Like I said, I just tried to be calm, relaxed. She played good on the front. It was my turn to play good on the back. So it was good.

Q. What did your mother say to you last night when you called her to wish her happy birthday?
LORENA OCHOA: She was very happy, but she said, you know, make sure you win the tournament for my birthday and when they ask you how old I am, tell them twenty‑two. (Laughter). I did have her in my mind and in my thoughts all day. This tournament was for her.

Stacy Prammanasudh, 66-70-67-64=267 (-21)

Scorecard: Hole 1, 359-yard par 4: birdie – pitching wedge to 15 feet
Hole 4, 503-yard par 5: birdie – chip to two feet
Hole 9, 461-yard par 5: eagle – 3-wood to 30 feet
Hole 10, 380-yard par 4: bogey – 3-putt from 20 feet
Hole 11, 520-yard par 5: birdie – sand wedge to six feet
Hole 12, 365-yard par 4: birdie – pitching wedge to 10 feet
Hole 13, 377-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to 10 feet
Hole 14, 549-yard par 5: birdie – gap wedge to eight feet
Hole 18, 413-yard par 4: birdie – 7-iron to 10 feet

Q. Talk about your day.
STACY PRAMMANASUDH: I played a great round of golf. I didn't make many mistakes out there. I can't ask for anything more.

Q. Is watching Lorena kind of like banging your head against the wall?
STACY PRAMMANASUDH: You know she's going to go out there and play a great round. You have to go out and do the best you can.

Q. What was it like with everybody going low.
STACY PRAMMANASUDH: The greens were quite receptive out there. I left the ball on the high-side on No. 10 and could have had a better chance, but overall I am pleased.

Q. Did the greens help that?
STACY PRAMMANASUDH: The greens were firming up yesterday and today you could shoot right at it.

Jee Young Lee, 66-67-68-66=267 (-21)

Scorecard: Hole 4, 503-yard par 5: birdie – 60-degree wedge to three feet
Hole 7, 395-yard par 4: birdie – 56-degree to nine feet
Hole 8, 148-yard par 3: birdie – pitching wedge to six feet
Hole 9, 461-yard par 5: eagle – rescue club to three feet
Hole 10, 380-yard par 4: birdie – 56-degree to 15 feet
Hole 12, 365-yard par 4: birdie – 56-degree to six feet
Hole 16, 389-yard par 4: bogey – 8-iron to 45 feet, three-putt

PAUL ROVNAK: Jee Young, thanks for coming in. A great tournament. You shot 6‑under today. You and Lorena had a little battle going there, she would birdie, you would birdie. Go ahead and give us your thoughts on the day and we'll take questions.
JEE YOUNG LEE (through and interpreter): I don't think that I lost today. Like I said yesterday, I enjoyed playing with a great player, a top player. I didn't play bad. I played well, but she played better than I, so I learned a lot today.

Q. I believe through 13 holes that she had 5 birdies and an eagle and actually was still down. Could you just ask her if it was a little frustrating. She was playing so well, but she wasn't able to ever get the lead from her.
JEE YOUNG LEE (through and interpreter): Actually, I was not frustrated at all. I played my game. What I was concerned with was just my score, not her score, so I played well today.

Q. Can you talk about your eagle and the momentum you had going into the back nine?
JEE YOUNG LEE (through and interpreter): The first several holes I couldn't make a birdie. But No. 9, I eagled so I felt okay. And then I was on my way and I could play well.