GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Former Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis finished in a tie for fourth in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday and wrapped up the player of the year award.
“It was a lot of pressure you know?” said Lewis, 27,who shot a 68 Sunday and finished at 12-under-par 276, earning $51,901. “That’s what everyone has been talking about, and I’m just glad that I took care of it this week. I didn’t play my best, but I got it done when I needed to.”
Cristie Kerr, at 16-under par 272, earned her 15th LPGA Tour victory, her first since the LPGA Championship in June 2010.
Kerr held off Angela Stanford and third-round leader Inbee Park by a stroke at Guadalajara Country Club.
Park needed to win the event and the season-ending Titleholders to have a chance to pass Lewis in the player of the year standings.
Lewis, No. 2 in the Rolex World Rankings, is the first American player of the year since Beth Daniel in 1994.
“After I finally made my last putt there on 18, I think it finally hit me,” said Lewis, who leads the tour with four victories. “It’s just crazy to think that there have been so many great American players and I am the one after Beth in ‘94. It’s just crazy to even think of.”
Sports, Pages 15 on 11/12/2012