Esther Choe Dominates Riviera Nayarit Golf Classic CVB of Riviera Nayarit
April 30, 2012

Esther Choe wins at El Tigre Golf & Country Club.

Esther Choe from Scottsdale, Arizona, carded a four-under 69 strokes on Sunday to cruise to a six-stroke win at the Riviera Nayarit Classic.

Choe, who also won on the Symetra Tour last week in the Sara Bay Classic in Florida, finished at 12 under-par for 207 on the par 73 El Tigre Golf & Country Club in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit.

Yesterday, for the last day of the tournament, she stumbled out of the gate with a bogey on the first, but rebounded with birdies on the fifth and eighth. Around the turn, Choe traded a birdie for a bogey from the 10th.

Choe ran off three consecutive birdies from the 12th to pull away. She faltered to a bogey on 17, but sealed the win with a birdie at the last.

Jean Chua of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, shot a 68 and rookie Ginger Howard from Bradenton, Florida, shot a 69, sharing second place at minus six.

Taylor Collins from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, matched the low round of the day with her seven under 66. She soared 43 spots into a tie for fourth at a five under-par 214, where she finished alongside Cara Freeman from Chandler, Arizona, (71) and Dawn Shockley from Estes Park, Colorado, (72).

Calle Nielsen from Nashville, Tennessee, started the day three strokes off the lead, but struggled to a three-over 76 that left her tied for 14th at minus two.

Alejandra Llaneza from Mexico City scored best of the Mexican golfers with a accumulated score of -1 and tied at position 23.

Golfers from the United States maintained the high level of play last Friday and set a record for the tournament, making one of the best scores in the last 15 years in this LPGA (Ladies Professional Golfers Association) tour.

At the Awards Ceremony, the players highlighted the tranquility, excellent services, professionalism and warmth they felt at the El Tigre Country Club. The winner, Esther Choe, stated "The truth is that I felt at home, everyone here was excellent and it was a great holiday. The course accommodated me and I felt relaxed and it was noted in my score." She added, in her best Spanish, "Me like El Tigre."