Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Lexi Thompson wins Lorena Ochoa Invitational by one over Stacy Lewis

Lexi Thompson at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational
Getty Images
Lexi Thompson won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday, birdieing the final hole to beat Stacy Lewis by a stroke.
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By 
Associated Press 

Series: LPGA Tour
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Lexi Thompson won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday for her second victory in her last four starts, birdieing the final hole to beat Stacy Lewis by a stroke. 
The 18-year-old Thompson made a 5-foot putt on the par-5 18th, then won when Lewis missed her 5-foot try. 
"First off, I had like a 50- to 60-footer for the first one, which was interesting getting up there within a few feet," Thompson said. "You know on the second putt, that's what it all came down to thinking I can make it and went up to it confidently. Just knock it in." 
The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year, had a 68. 
"I knew I had to make it," Lewis said about her birdie try on the final hole. "I had a good line on it, just with these greens, those downhill putts are the hardest ones to make. I hit a good putt. I hit it where I wanted to. It just didn't go in." 
Thompson closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 16-under 272 at Guadalajara Country Club. She won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at 16, and took the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia last month for her second tour title. 
So Yeon Ryu was third at 13 under after a 69. 
Top-ranked Inbee Park finished fourth at 11 under to wrap up the points-based player of the year award with one event left. She is the first South Korean player to win the award. 
"I said all year, there should have been at least two or three girls that already won the award, but nobody really did it," said Park, who shot 69. "It's just really hard to believe and I'm just very lucky I won." 
Lewis birdied Nos. 12-14 to take a one-stroke lead, but dropped into a tie with Thompson with a bogey on the par-3 17th. 
"Stacy is an amazing player," Thompson said. "I knew she could make a run at me any time during that round. When she made the two-shot swing on me, I think on No. 12, it brought it back to all squared. I knew I had to make birdies on top of her because she gets on a roll and she doesn't stop. She's an amazing player and played great today." 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Juan Castillo To Be Offensive Line Coach Next Year



Posted Jan 8, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



John Harbaugh understands why Castillo was a ‘lightning rod,’ but took blame for his title.



Juan Castillo will remain in Baltimore next season, but will have a different nameplate outside his office.

After serving as the run game coordinator last year, Castillo will have a new title next season.

“Juan’s title is going to be the offensive line coach. That’s the way he worked last year,” Head Coach John Harbaugh announced during Wednesday’s season-review press conference.

Castillo was the team’s primary offensive line coach last season, although his title focused on the running game. Castillo took over for Andy Moeller as the lead offensive line coach, but Moeller remained on staff as an assistant. Todd Washington was also an assistant offensive line coach.



“The rest of it is a little bit in flux right now,” Harbaugh said.

Part of the issue with finalizing the coaching staff is that Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell is a candidate for head coaching jobs with the Lions, Redskins and Titans. If Caldwell gets one of those jobs, he could bring some of Harbaugh’s staff along with him.

“As all of this NFL coaching drama goes on – and some of our guys are involved in that – we’ll just have to see how it shakes out,” Harbaugh said. “But we’re going to build a great coaching staff again this year.”

Castillo has been the subject of criticism after the Ravens had a historically bad run game in 2013. They finished the season ranked 30th in the NFL by averaging 83 rushing yards per game. They also finished last in the NFL averaging 3.1 yards per carry.

Harbaugh said it was a mistake to put all the blame on Castillo.

“I can understand why Juan is a lightning rod right now because of how we’re set up and structured,” Harbaugh said. “Then we go into the season and we have our worst year ever running the ball, and he’s got that title. That’s on me.”

Castillo, a long-time offensive line coach for the Eagles, was hired during the Ravens’ Super Bowl run. He had a limited role during the 2012 playoffs, and then took on more responsibility heading into the 2013 season.

“When we hired Juan, the idea was to add another great coach into our mix,” Harbaugh said. “The title was a way to have three great offensive line coaches in our mix right there. [period] … We had three guys working together and I thought it was going to be a really good mix, and I thought those guys did a really good job of coaching. We didn’t get the results we wanted to get.”

Harbaugh has the authority to build the coaching staff he wants, but he also leans on General Manger Ozzie Newsome during that process.

“He wants me to ask questions about his staff because he wants to have the best staff in the National Football League,” Newsome said. “And John is not afraid to make tough decisions or unpopular decisions if he thinks it’s in the best interest of the Baltimore Ravens. Our relationship with his coaching staff, I don’t think if it’s matched in the league when it comes to that.”

As Harbaugh finalizes his staff over the next few weeks, his main message was that the group has to improve collectively heading into next season.

“Going forward, our plan now is to improve and get better,” Harbaugh said. “There are a lot of things we didn’t do well as a coaching staff, and that’s why we look at ourselves first. We have to do a better job of putting our players in position to make plays – offense, defense and special teams.”