Ochoa romps to second major

DIGEST - LPGA TOUR: World number one Lorena Ochoa won her second successive major title and a third LPGA title this year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Million Hills Country Club in California yesterday.

A stroke ahead overnight, the 26-year-old Mexican pulled away from the field with a flawless five-under-par 67 for an 11-under total of 277. She reeled off four birdies over the front nine to turn in four-under-par 32. A fifth birdie at the 10th saw her home in 35 for 67 and a five-shot winning margin over Annika Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen.

Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam, who considered withdrawing during Saturday's third round because of intense stomach pain, shared second place with Pettersen after both shot 68s to finish on six-under-par 282.

The Swedish world number two birdied three of the first eight holes before picking up another shot at the par-five 11th.

NATIONS CUP: Shane Lowry won the individual title while Ireland finished second to Scotland in the European Amateur Nations Cup in Sotogrange yesterday.

Lowry, the recently crowned West of Ireland champion, claimed the individual trophy and the yellow Amateur Masters Jacket after he birdied the fifth extra hole in the play-off against Frenchman Benjamín Hebert.

Lowry had rounds of 73, 67, 69 and 71 for a total of 280 while Herbert shot 67, 72, 71 and 70.

Lying in second place behind Sweden after the third round, Scotland pulled off a momentous come-from-behind win on the fourth and final day of the 72-hole tournament, to finish five shots ahead of Ireland.

Ireland also overcame Sweden with Niall Kearney shooting 68, Cian Curley 70 and Paul Cutler and Lowry both firing 71s.

LET TOUR: Trish Johnson and Rebecca Hudson claimed a five-stroke victory in the inaugural VCI European Womens' Golf Cup at La Sella near Alicante.

The pair combined for rounds of 64, 70, 65 and 71 for an 18-under-par total of 270. Belgium and Germany tied for second on 13 under.

The English duo were five strokes clear of the field going into the final round and recovered from a bogey on the fifth with three birdies on the back nine.

Johnson holed from 25 feet at the 15th to give the English team a three-shot lead.

Hudson then almost fired a hole-in-one at the 185-yard 17th, allowing Johnson to hole from five feet to effectively seal victory.

The Irish pair of Rebecca Coalkley and Martina Gillen finished well down the field on 289 after rounds of 67, 76, 75 and 71.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Ireland's Stephen Browne finished in a tie for fifth place in the Abierto VISA de la Republica at Hurlingham Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina yesterday.

The Hermitage player totalled five-under-par 276 after round of 65, 65, 73 and 73 - six shots behind local winner Antti Ahokas.

In an all Argentina top three Ahokas finished on 10-under-par 270 after a final round of 66 with Martin Monguzzi three back on 273 and Estanislao Goya on 274.

Gareth Maybin shot a final round 72 for 278, David Higgins 73 for 283 and Colm Moriarty 74 for 284.