Lorena Ochoa Opens Her Bag

PATTAYA, Thailand, March 1, 2009 - Rolex Rankings' number one Lorena Ochoa continues to solidify her position as the top-ranked player in the world after winning her 2009 season debut at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

"I think it was a good idea to wait a few months for my first tournament," said Ochoa, shortly after accepting her $217,000 winner's check. "I just tried my best. It gave me motivation to win first tournament. Hopefully, I will win more tournaments."

Ochoa (71-69-68-66) entered the round tied for second with Brittany Lang (68-69-71-73) at 8-under-par 208 - three strokes behind 54-hole leader Paula Creamer (68-70-67-73). Ochoa and Creamer teed off in Sunday's final group and quickly found themselves tied at 9-under-par after back-to-back bogeys by Creamer on holes two and three and a second-hole birdie by Ochoa. A birdie on the par-4, fifth hole by Ochoa gave her the outright lead, which she continued to build on with birdies on holes six and eight to make the turn at 12-under-par. On the back nine, Ochoa made birdie on holes 11 and 13 before carding her lone bogey on the par-3, 171-yard 16th hole. She erased her step back by making a five-foot putt for birdie on the 17th hole to secure the victory.