Tipster: Stanley

Welch's/Fry's Championship

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Grace Park to win 16/1 e.w. @ William Hill
Large price for a player who had ten top-3 finishes last year, though only one win. Se finished the 2003 season with 14 top-10 finishes in her last 15 events. There are very few who can compete with that consistency and this price would only be justified if Annika Sorenstam was in the field. She is not and Park should continue her fine form in this event - 6th, 3rd and 4th in the last three years.

Lorena Ochoa to win 28/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
Ochoa can also boast good form in this event - 7th, 5th and 16th in the last tree years - even though she played as an amateur in the first two years. She really didn't make the breakthrough that I expected last year - five top-3 finishes but no wins - but there is no reason that she shouldn't do this year. One benefit is that her odds are now higher - she was a 22/1 selection last year and at bigger odds and with an extra place on offer, she is retained for this event.

Lorie Kane to win 40/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
Kane also has a fine record in this event with top-25 finishes in each of the last six years, though her best finish was last year when she finished 2nd. It was the second year in succession that she had opened her season with a 2nd place finish and that would be a profitable trend if it continued this year.

Final update: 1-2; -1.35pts

Park 2nd
Ochoa 42nd
Kane 42nd

Small loss, but a valiant effort by Park to win the event with a 3rd round 61. Early in the final round she draw level with Stupples, but never took sole lead and the title was effectively decided when Stupples eagled the 13th hole. There had never been more than one shot between them until that stage.