World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa became the first player in seven years to win four successive LPGA titles with a three-shot victory at the Ginn Open in Reunion, Florida, on Sunday.
Mexican Ochoa, a stroke in front overnight, signed off with a three-under-par 69 for a 19-under total of 269.
Although feeling fatigued over the closing stretch, she posted her fifth LPGA triumph of the season in just six starts and the 22nd of her remarkable career.
"For sure it was a great day today," the 26-year-old Guadalajara native told reporters. "It was different. It was a tough back nine and yes, I have another big trophy. I don't know. I'm going to ask my mummy where we should put it."
Rookie Yani Tseng of Chinese Taipei closed with a 71 to finish second, five ahead of Suzann Pettersen of Norway, also after a 71.
Former world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam of Sweden was the most recent player to win four consecutive titles on the LPGA Tour, doing so in 2001.
Only two others have achieved the feat, Mickey Wright in 1962 and 1963 and fellow American Kathy Whitworth in 1969.
Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) hold the tour record with five straight victories in events entered, but neither of those came in consecutive weeks.
Tseng briefly snatched the lead with a birdie-birdie start before Ochoa regained control with three consecutive birdies from the par-four eighth, where she sank a 12-footer.
Although the Mexican covered the last eight holes in one-over par, three-putting for bogey at the 15th, she had enough of a cushion to ease to victory.
"I survived," she said. "I was tired, mentally and physically. I'm just glad I hung in there and I was able to finish strong. For sure, I'm ready to take a break."
At Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Boo Weekley held his nerve over the treacherous closing stretch to complete a successful title defense by three shots at the Heritage Classic on Sunday.
Three ahead of the chasing pack overnight, the 34-year-old American fired a level-par 71 in blustery conditions at the Harbour Town Golf Links to secure his second PGA Tour career victory.
Weekley posted a 15-under total of 269 to become the first player to win consecutive titles at Hilton Head since Davis Love III in 1992.
Fellow American Anthony Kim, helped by three birdies in a row from the 13th, also carded a 71 to share second place with 2006 winner Aaron Baddeley of Australia (69).
"I slept good last night but protecting the lead I didn't hit it very well today," Weekley said in a greenside television interview after a round featuring five birdies and five bogeys.
Jim Furyk, ranked ninth in the world, was the hardest charger early, cutting a six-stroke deficit in half with three birdies in the first five holes. Furyk, though, fell back with a bogey on the 11th. He shot a 69 to finish fourth, his third top-five finish in the past four Heritages.
Weekley earned US$990,000, and a second straight invitation to the Masters. He tied for 20th at Augusta National to miss qualifying for 2009.
(Agencies April 22, 2008)