Ochoa Rallies to Win Safeway International

By ANDREW BAGNATO
AP Sports
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. (March 25) - Viva Lorena!

The chant echoed through the foothills of the Superstition Mountains as Lorena Ochoa blew a four-stroke lead to Suzann Pettersen, then birdied four of the last five holes for a two-stroke victory in the Safeway International on Sunday.

Wearing a green shirt and white shorts to honor her homeland, the Mexican star shot a 4-under 68 to rally past Pettersen (66) for her 10th tour victory. After Ochoa holed a short birdie putt on 18, an impromptu fiesta broke out on the green with her family and members of the grounds crew.

Ochoa had visited with the workers on Tuesday and thanked them for their efforts, as she does at many tournaments.

“I told them to come and celebrate with me, because this trophy is for all of you,” Ochoa said. “It was very nice to see their reaction and to see them close. Hopefully they enjoyed the day as much as I did. I’m very proud to be Mexican.”

Ochoa, the tour’s reigning player of the year, earned $225,000 for her 10th LPGA Tour victory. She finished at 18 under. Read more

Jacksonville and Its Beaches: Florida’s First Coast of Golf and So Much More

Jacksonville may not be the first place you think of when contemplating a golf vacation in Florida but maybe the First Coast should be your first choice.

by Dana R. Butler

(excerpt)

Jacksonville sits nestled in the extreme northeast corner of a state known for its vacation destinations. It is a new southern city that traces its roots back to 1564. How is such a paradox possible? Northeast Florida was the first area of settlement by Europeans, hence the name ³First Coast,² and was one of the first battlegrounds for European control of North America. In 1901, the burgeoning city of Jacksonville was leveled by a devastating fire. Now, nearly 100 years later, the new city has developed into a jewel of the eastern coast, an area featuring 47 golf courses, rich dining and shopping experiences, a wide variety of leisure activities ranging from amusement parks to protected wilderness parks, a storied history, and more than 20 miles of white sand beaches.

They say that every day is a good day for golf in northeast Florida. Nearby Ponte Vedra Beach is the home of the PGA Tour and also features the well-known Marriott at Sawgrass Resort. The second largest golf resort in the U.S., the Marriott boasts five championship courses, including two TPC courses: the PGA’s TPC Stadium Course, Sawgrass Country Club, TPC Valley Course, Marsh Landing, and Oak Bridge. Each spring, The Players Championship is played here on the Stadium Course. Golf vacation packages are available which include lodging and play on the Oak Bridge course.
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