Annika Sorenstam made up five strokes on leader Angela Stanford in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday by shooting a five-under 67 to cut her deficit to just a stroke with one round left.
Making her second-to-last start before leaving the US LPGA Tour, Sorenstam eagled the par-five 10th and added six birdies. The Swedish star is seeking her third tour victory in Mexico — and first since the 2006 Mastercard Classic.
“Maybe it’s the tacos or the margaritas,” Sorenstam said. “I’m excited about tomorrow.”
PHOTO: AP
The 72-time tour champion will need to get past Stanford, the Bell Micro Classic winner in September who has four straight top-five finishes. Stanford followed opening rounds of 68 and 66 with a 72.
“There’s going to be some pressure,” Stanford said. “She’s one of the legends of our game and she is probably the best of all time. She’s going to play really well. She’s been there 72 times and she knows how to do it and I’m still learning.”
Australia’s Katherine Hull (66) was two strokes back. South Korea’s Jee Young Lee (69) was seven under and compatriot Sun Young Yoo (70) was another shot behind.
Sorenstam hit a five-wood to 28 feet to set up her two-putt eagle on the 475-yard 10th. She closed with a birdie on the par-five 18th, hitting a sand wedge to 2 feet.
“I would say the biggest difference today is I made some putts, especially early on, and I hit a few shots a little closer today,” Sorenstam said.
Stanford had two birdies and two bogeys in her even-par round.
Tournament host Lorena Ochoa celebrated her 27th birthday with her best round of the week, a 70 that left her eight strokes back at two under. US LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa, also was two under after a 78.
At the beginning and the end of the round, the fans sang Happy Birthday to Ochoa.
“It was a very nice gesture, I want to thank the fans for all of their support, it was a very special day in the golf course,” Ochoa said.
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