Six-birdie Lorena leads
MEXICO’S world No.1, Lorena Ochoa, took aim at her third title of the season today (AEST), grabbing the third-round lead in the Wegmans LPGA event.
The 25-year-old had six birdies in the best round of the day to stand at nine-under 207, one shot clear of South Korea teen In-Kyung Kim, who carded a 71. American Cristie Kerr is third after a 70 for 211.
Successive birdies at her last two holes saw Ochoa clinch the lead. She was on the green in two at the par-five 17th and almost holed her second shot at 18.
Ochoa has already won the Safeway International and Sybase
Classic this year, and another victory would be the perfect warm-up for her bid for a first Major title at this week’s US Open.
”I’m very happy and in a great position for the last round, said Ochoa, the 2005 winner here. “I love this course and just hope to do the same tomorrow.”
American Angela Stanford, who had the lead to herself after making four birdies in the first 11 holes, suffered a catastrophic collapse over the final stretch.
She bogeyed the 13th, 14th and 16th and took a seven at the 17th, for a round of 73 that left her five shots behind Ochoa.
Joining Stanford in a tie for fourth on 212 is Canada’s A.J. Eathorne. She emerged from her season-long slump with a four-birdie 69.
The 30-year-old has made only two cuts in 12 starts and has not even had a top-50 finish this year. But she birdied the 8th and 9th, 11th and 12th, and dropped her only shot at the 13th.
Mi Hyun Kim, who shared the second-round lead with compatrot In-Kyung Kim, fired a 75 to join a group on 212, which also includes Australia’s Lindsey Wright (72).
Agence France-Presse