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Lorena Ochoa takes share of lead at Rancho Mirage

Momoko Ueda putts her sock back on after hitting from the edge of the water during the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, who is the top-ranked player in the world, is tied for the lead with Heather Young after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Ochoa signed for a one-under-par 71 to get to five-under 139 after 36 holes in the first women’s major of the year.

“I kept telling myself just to ‘be patient and you’re in position and you have a couple more rounds’,” Ochoa said. “I’m in a good position where I like to be starting the weekend.”

“I did hit the ball really good and gave myself a lot of birdie chances,” she said. “I made only one bad mistake on 15 and the rest was really solid golf.

“So now it’s a matter of having faith for the next couple days,” Ochoa said.

Young carded a two-under 70 and is tied with Ochoa for the lead. Maria Hjorth and Mi Hyun Kim each shot their second consecutive 70 and are tied for third at four-under 140.

Hee-Won Han (69) and Annika Sorenstam (70), looking to win this event for the fourth time, are two shots back at three-under 141.

“It feels good,” said Young. “But it’s just halfway over. So, you know, I don’t have any expectations for the weekend.

“I’m just going to try to keep my head up. I got off to a rough start today and I just tried to keep my mood up, and it served me well.”

Defending champion Morgan Pressel shot a 74 and is tied for 22nd at 1-over 145. Last season, as an 18-year-old, she became the youngest player to win a major on the LPGA Tour.

First-round leader Karen Stupples also struggled Friday and is tied for seventh at 2-under 142 after a 75.

The 2004 Women’s British Open champion, Stupples carded a bogey-free 67 to open the tournament but was not nearly as sharp in the second round with six bogeys, including two straight to start the round.

Young said she is looking forward to the challenge of going head to head with Ochoa.

“She is playing great. She’s playing phenomenal golf. So I expect her to have a lot of fans.

“I expect her to play well, and I expect her to out-drive me on every hole, so I’ll have a lot of shots into the green first.”

Sorenstam shrugged off stomach pain for her last nine holes to climb into contention.

“I just have a terrible stomach ache. I don’t know what it is. I’ve had it for about nine holes and it’s not going away. I feel a bit nauseous, so I’m going to go in and get some rest.”
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