Kerr collects US Open crown

American Cristie Kerr claimed her first major title when she shot a final round 70 to win the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina today.

With a five under-par 279 she won the £278,850 first prize by two shots.

But it was another huge disappointment for world number one Lorena Ochoa in her bid for a first major. She was tied with Kerr with five holes to play, but fell behind to a birdie at the 14th before throwing away her chance with a poor tee shot at the 17th.

The 25-year-old Mexican’s drive hit a tree and dropped into a bunker. Going for broke from the sand with a five wood she half-topped the shot and ran up a bogey five.

It left Ochoa, who has come close to winning several majors, having to settle for a 71 and a tie for second with Brazil’s Angela Park, who birdied the last for a 70. Two South Koreans, Se Ri Pak, with a best of final round of 68, and the unrelated In-Bee Park (69), tied for fifth on two-under.

Scot Catriona Matthew, who highlighted her week with a second round 67, was the best of the British players in joint 16th place on five over par. Laura Davies was three behind on eight over, Wales’ Becky Morgan was on nine over and Janice Moodie was on 10-over. All four Britons shot 73 in the final round.

“I’m pretty happy,” said Matthew, who had top 10 finishes in the first two majors this year.

“It was much breezier today and that made it difficult. But it’s certainly proving to be a good year in the majors.”

For 29-year-old Kerr, it was a 10th LPGA title, but her most important victory to date.

“It was definitely my day and this is a dream come true,” said the Miami golfer, who tied for second in the 2000 US Open and was fourth the following year at this venue.

“I made an unbelievable putt at the 14th (from 18 feet for birdie) and I couldn’t be happier.”

After the victory, an emotional Kerr burst into tears and jumped into the arms of her husband, Erik Stevens.

For 25-year-old Ochoa, whose closest call in a major is a play-off defeat to Karrie Webb in last year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, it was day of missed chances.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Ochoa. “I was right in with a few holes to play but the bogey at the 17th changed everything. I tried really hard but it wasn’t good enough today.”