Print

Mail

wiki links

Ochoa claims share of lead in front of adoring home fans

Yu Ping-lin of Taiwan waits to putt on the third green during the third round of the Corona Championship on Saturday in Morelia, Mexico. PHOTO: AFP

Lorena Ochoa shot a 9-under 64 to tie Julieta Granada and Silvia Cavalleri for the third-round lead in the Corona Morelia Championship on Saturday, the Mexican star's first tournament as the No. 1 player in the world.

A day after falling five strokes behind with a 74, Ochoa had eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey before thousands of fans who cheered her every move on the hilly Tres Marias course.

The 64 matched the US LPGA Tour record on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course. Granada had a 67, and Cavalleri shot a 69.

"I started the day happy and with a lot of will to play and a lot of positive energy. I think that has a lot to do with it," said Ochoa, who took the top spot in the rankings from the injured Annika Sorenstam last week.

Granada, the young Paraguayan who finished second to Ochoa last October at Tres Marias, birdied her final three holes.

Cavalleri, the Italian who started the day tied for first place, had six birdies and two bogeys to stay at the front of the pack.

"It motivates me to defeat the No. 1 player, but my major motivation is to win my first tournament on the LPGA. That will be much better," said Cavalleri, who birdied the 18th.

"Tomorrow, I will use the same strategy as today: Attack when I think it's the moment and be conservative when I need to be," she said.

Pat Hurst (68) and South Korean rookie Na On Min (67) were tied for fourth at 12 under at the course that sits about 1,920m above sea level.

Stacy Prammanasudh, the Fields Open winner in Hawaii in February, shot a 70 to join Taiwanese duo Teresa Lu and Yu Ping-lin plus Hye Jung Choi, Kate Golden, Sarah Lee and Angela Park at 9 under.
This story has been viewed 876 times.