Rookie Friberg secures shock tour victory
Sweden's Louise Friberg fired a final round seven-under 65 as she rallied from a 10-shot deficit to capture the LPGA's MasterCard Classic in Mexico City on Sunday.
Friberg, of Helsingborg, reached six-under 210 to post a one-stroke victory over Tawain's Tseng Yani for her first LPGA Tour title.
Making her fourth career LPGA start in her rookie season, Friberg entered Sunday's final round 10 strokes behind South Korea's Oh Ji-Young.
Oh suffered a final-round collapse, tumbling down the leaderboard with a seven-over 79. Friberg had an eagle and six birdies with just one bogey.
"After the first week in Hawaii, it didn't take me many hours to feel at home on the LPGA Tour," Friberg, of Helsingborg said. "I didn't think I would win so quickly.
"I'm going to stick with my game plan and keep going, but I don't think this has all sunk in yet."
Friberg said she will treasure this win not only because it is her first but because she has been battling a virus the past few days.
"I don't know what to say," Friberg said. "I guess Sunday's are my day. A lot of times I've played good in the last round and I did today, but I'm just happy to get through because I've been really sick the past two days.
"But around holes six or seven, I started feeling better. I'm still kind of anxious to get to bed in the hotel.
Tseng was two shots off the pace to begin the round but was unable to take
advantage of Oh's demise.
Tseng had six birdies on Saturday but managed just one in the final round and finished with a 74.
"I learned a lot from this experience," Tseng said. "The first couple of holes, I played too fast.
"I know, in the future, I'll take my time and be patient."
Jane Park (70) and Jill McGill (72) tied for third at four-under.
Oh ended up in a tie for eighth at two-under along with Mexican star Lorena Ochoa, who rebounded from a pair of disappointing rounds to close with a 68.
Ranked number one in the world, Ochoa is now winless in four starts at Bosque Real Country Club.
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Friberg, of Helsingborg, reached six-under 210 to post a one-stroke victory over Tawain's Tseng Yani for her first LPGA Tour title.
Making her fourth career LPGA start in her rookie season, Friberg entered Sunday's final round 10 strokes behind South Korea's Oh Ji-Young.
Oh suffered a final-round collapse, tumbling down the leaderboard with a seven-over 79. Friberg had an eagle and six birdies with just one bogey.
"After the first week in Hawaii, it didn't take me many hours to feel at home on the LPGA Tour," Friberg, of Helsingborg said. "I didn't think I would win so quickly.
"I'm going to stick with my game plan and keep going, but I don't think this has all sunk in yet."
Friberg said she will treasure this win not only because it is her first but because she has been battling a virus the past few days.
"I don't know what to say," Friberg said. "I guess Sunday's are my day. A lot of times I've played good in the last round and I did today, but I'm just happy to get through because I've been really sick the past two days.
"But around holes six or seven, I started feeling better. I'm still kind of anxious to get to bed in the hotel.
Tseng was two shots off the pace to begin the round but was unable to take
advantage of Oh's demise.
Tseng had six birdies on Saturday but managed just one in the final round and finished with a 74.
"I learned a lot from this experience," Tseng said. "The first couple of holes, I played too fast.
"I know, in the future, I'll take my time and be patient."
Jane Park (70) and Jill McGill (72) tied for third at four-under.
Oh ended up in a tie for eighth at two-under along with Mexican star Lorena Ochoa, who rebounded from a pair of disappointing rounds to close with a 68.
Ranked number one in the world, Ochoa is now winless in four starts at Bosque Real Country Club.
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