TUCSON, March 24 (UPI) -- Laura Diaz won her first career LPGA Tour title Sunday, holding off Hall of Famer Juli Inkster for a one-stroke victory at the Welch's/Circle K Championship.
Diaz began the day in a tie for second, two strokes off Inkster's pace, but shot a 4-under-par 68. Her par at the 18th hole gave her a four-round total of 18-under 270, one stroke off the tournament record.
The win was a long time in coming for Diaz, the 1998 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year who had four-runner-up finishes in 27 starts last season and finished ninth on the money list with over $750,000.
Diaz earned $120,000.
Inkster led by four shots midway through the event, but could not close out her 27th career title, shooting 70-71 on the weekend. She won here in 1999, the year she qualified for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
Grace Park of Korea blitzed the Randolph North Golf Course with a 64 and tied Kelly Robbins for third at 273. Amateur Lorena Ochoa finished a superb week with a 68 and matched Australian star Karrie Webb for fifth at 274.
Two-time defending champion Annika Sorenstam of Sweden could not build on the momentum of her middle rounds and closed with a 70, tying four others for seventh at 276. She set the tournament record of 269 last season.
