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CASTRALE LOOKS TO DEFEND HER FIRST LPGA TITLE
MT.PLEASANT,
S.C., Monday, April 28, 2008 – The $2.6 million Ginn
Tribute hosted by ANNIKA will be played for the second-consecutive
year at RiverTowne Country Club in Charleston, S.C., May 26-June
1, 2008, with inaugural champion Nicole Castrale looking
to defend her title.
The
2007 Ginn Tribute hosted by ANNIKA saw Castrale earn her
first LPGA victory by defeating No. 1-ranked Lorena Ochoa in a
one-hole sudden death playoff.
"I
am looking forward to defending my first win on the LPGA at the
Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika,” said Castrale.
“Annika has been a great ambassador for women's golf and I
will always cherish winning her inaugural event on the LPGA."
Castrale,
who originally joined the LPGA in 2002, made the cut in 22 of 24
events in 2007. She finished 15th on the season-ending
money list with nearly $900,000. In addition to winning her
first LPGA title in 2007, her season was highlighted by being a
member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. The 29-year-old sunk
the winning putt in singles competition for the victorious U.S.
Solheim Cup team to retain the Cup. Thus far in 2008, she
posted her best finish at the Stanford International Pro-Am,
where she tied for 14th.
In
2007, the Ginn Tribute Hosted by ANNIKA began with Angela Park
taking the first-round lead with a well-crafted 6-under-par 66.
After Friday’s second round, Ochoa was atop the leaderboard.
The world’s No. 1-ranked woman vaulted to that accustomed
spot after a 5-under-par 67 moved her to 9-under for the
tournament. Ochoa enjoyed a three-shot lead over Park and four
over Paula Creamer.
On
Saturday, storm clouds rolled in, bringing not only steady rain
and gusty winds, but a foreshadowing of what would follow Sunday.
After a 2-under 70, Ochoa held her three-shot lead over Castrale
– who climbed into second with a marvelous 68 – but
Ochoa knew she could have put things away for good…had she
not bogeyed her final two holes. She led by six shots with six
holes left.
That
would prove prophetic come Sunday, as the back-nine once again
bit Ochoa. She took a three-shot lead into the 11th hole, the
easy par-5, only to walk away with a three-
putt
bogey. Ochoa bogeyed the other par-5 (16) after yanking her tee
shot into the rough left of the green and failing to get up-and-down.
Castrale, meanwhile found herself trying to not only catch
Ochoa, but fend off a surging Cristie Kerr, who eagled 11 and
birdied 12 and 13 to reach 9-under.
Ochoa
birdied 15 to hold onto that two-shot lead, only to give a stroke
back with the bogey on 16, a fate she shared with Castrale.
The par-3 17th would be the turning point for all three: Kerr
ended her run with a double-bogey after dumping her tee shot in
the right rough and fluffing the chip.
Putting
from the first cut, Ochoa ran her birdie chance about eight feet
past the hole and missed her comeback. And Castrale
drilled a 12-footer to finish the two-shot swing and tie for the
lead at 9-under.
Both
players left their birdie tries short on the 18th hole, sending
them back to the 18th tee for sudden death. There, Ochoa pulled
her tee shot, with the ball bounding left into the hazard. After Castrale
put her approach on the green, Ochoa, who had taken a drop into
the high rough, hit her third shot inside Castrale's ball
on the green.
Castrale
two-putted, then watched in disbelief as Ochoa's par attempt
just missed, giving the Californian her first career LPGA victory
and the $390,000 paycheck.
For
more information, or to purchase tickets visit www.ginntribute.com
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