Wie breaks through, wins in Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Michelle Wie shot a 3-under-par 69 Sunday and won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico -- her long-awaited first victory on the LPGA Tour.

The 20-year-old Wie, who had finished second in six tournaments and third in six others, finished at 13-under 275, winning by two shots over Paula Creamer, who closed with a 70.

Morgan Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) shared third place at 278.

Lorena Ochoa, the world's top-ranked woman golfer and host of the tournament, shot a 69 and ended up in a tie for sixth at 281.

Wie gained international attention as a pre-teen and teenage golfer. She qualified for the Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship when she was 10 and, at 13, became the youngest player to make an LPGA cut, playing in the Kraft Nabisco Championship and shooting a 66 in the third round.

But until the Mexico event, she had been unable to win on the tour.

"I think that hopefully life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do," Wie said after her victory. "I still have a lot to improve. It just feels so great right now."

Wie won $220,000.