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World Number 1 Lorena Ochoa from Mexico to defend Ricoh Women’s British Open title

Posted by under Ladies Pro Golf, Latest Golf News

Defending Champion and World Number 1, Lorena Ochoa, will be joined by the World’s best players when she defends her Ricoh Women’s British Open title at Sunningdale Golf Club from 31 July to 3 August, 2008.

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Champions at Sunningdale, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Karen Stupples qualify as former winners of the event, as does World Number 2, Annika Sorenstam who won the title in 2003. World Number 4, Paula Creamer, Japan’s Yuri Fudoh - the World Number 18 and Miki Saiki - the World Number 29, have also qualified with a top 15 finish at the 2007 Championship. So too have Scottish stars, Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay while the 2007 Amateur Medal Winner, England’s Melissa Reid, who has built on her magnificent performance finishing Tied 16th at last year’s Championship, looks set to qualify through the LET money list on which she is currently ranked eighth.

Since winning the Ricoh Women’s British Open last August, the first Major of her career, Lorena has gone from strength to strength, consolidating her place at the top of the Rolex World Rankings by winning eight more tournament titles including a second Major title.

The 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open was the first professional women’s golf tournament to be played on the Old Course at St Andrews and Ricoh’s first as title sponsor and fittingly the first Major title for the popular World Number One.

Lorena has made a dazzling start to 2008, winning three out of her first four events, including a second Major to add to her haul - the Kraft Nabisco Championship – by a 5 shot margin last month.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies Golf Union in 1976, has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001. The event is managed and implemented in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company.

Leading scores as follows:-

1  142 -4  Lotta Wahlin (SWE)

2=  149 +3  Gwladys Nocera (FRA)

2=  149 +3  Emma Zackrisson (SWE)

4=  150 +4  Paula Marti (ESP)

4=  150 +4  Ana B Sanchez (ESP)

6=  151 +5  Karen-Margrethe Juul (DEN)

6=  151 +5  Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)

6=  151 +5  Stephanie Arricau (FRA)

9=  152 +6  Ludivine Kreutz (FRA)

9=  152 +6  Jade Schaeffer (FRA)

9=  152 +6  Johanna Westerberg (SWE)

9=  152 +6  Maria Verchenova (RUS)

13=  153 +7  Iben Tinning (DEN)

13=  153 +7  Melissa Reid (ENG)

13=  153 +7  Anna Rawson (AUS)

13=  153 +7  Rachel Bell (ENG)

13=  153 +7  Margherita Rigon (ITA)

13=  153 +7  Lynn Kenny (SCO)

13=  153 +7  Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)

20=  154 +8  Lisa Hall (ENG)

20=  154 +8  Nikki Garrett (AUS)

20=  154 +8  Amy Yang (KOR)

20=  154 +8  Melodie Bourdy (FRA)

20=  154 +8  Martina Gillen (IRE)

20=  154 +8  Stefania Croce (ITA)

20=  154 +8  Maria Boden (SWE)

20=  154 +8  Stacy Lee Bregman (SA)