Katherine Hull will try to keep her good fortune going when she tees it up against defending champion Lorena Ochoa at the LPGA Safeway Classic on Friday at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

Hull shot a final round 69 to hold off Se Ri Pak by one shot last week. It was Hull's first career title and has boosted her confidence heading into this week.

"I'm still kind of on cloud nine," she said. "I'm trying to obviously take the confidence from last week into this week and trying not to let the expectations get too high.

"I feel pretty good about my game and I'm hoping to have another good finish this week."

The event also will feature Annika Sorenstam, Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer.

Last year, Ochoa finished at 12-under-par 204 for a five-stroke victory. She entered the final round with a one-stroke lead but pulled away for her third consecutive win.

Ochoa has posted an LPGA Tour-leading six wins this season, but her last came in May at the Sybase Classic. Ochoa still tops the money list and has 13 top-10 finishes in 15 starts.

AFP