INBEE PARK WINS 17TH TITLE AT LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL

- November 16, 2015

Inbee Park saved her best round of the year, 8-under-par 64 for Sunday at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex to secure her 17th LPGA title and fifth this season. Park needed the splendid Sunday, too, with Carlota Ciganda hard charging up from behind with a career-low 9-under-par 63, the best round of the tournament. But when Ciganda got to six-under for the day through seven holes to tie Park, the world No. 2 responded with a beautiful five birdie, zero bogeys 5-under-par 31 on the back to edge Ciganda out by three at 18-under-par for the tournament.

For Park, the win is not only a victory at a tournament that had previously eluded her with three top-fours in the three years prior. It also made the season finale next week - the CME Group Tour Championship - a lot more interesting as Park's 18-under-par 270 has pushed her ahead of Lydia Ko in the Vare Trophy standings by just 0.0161 shots per round. Park's victory also puts the Rolex Player of the Year trophy firmly up for grabs next week as she has pulled within just three points of Ko. Park will need a minimum of an eight-place finish to tie Ko in the player of the year standings if Ko doesn't post a top-10 herself.

This was a long time coming for Park here in Mexico in her estimation. She had been close in years past - runner-up in 2012, fourth in 2013, third in 2014 - but hadn't been able to close the deal until Sunday.

Lorena Ochoa Invitational

1. Inbee Park (KOR) -18

2. Carlota Ciganda (SPA) -15

3. Sei Young Kim (KOR) -13

4. So Yeon Ryu (KOR) -11

5. Sakura Yokomine (JPN) -9

T6. Mariajo Uribe (COL) -8

T6. Caroline Masson (GER) -8

T8. Jaye Marie Green (USA) -6

T8. Suzann Pettersen (NOR) -6

T8. Cristie Kerr (USA) -6

T8. Christina Kim (USA) -6