Mexico's Ochoa takes golfing LPGA lead, Sorenstam struggles at Kraft Nabisco
RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AFP) — Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight one-under 71 to grab a one-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship on Saturday.
Ochoa posted four birdies including three straight as the world No 1 moved to six-under 210 after 54 holes in the first major of the season.
"In the first two rounds I played very easy and gave myself chances, making a few putts," Ochoa said. "But today it was difficult. It was hard from the tee to the green.
"And I am pretty happy with my round and with finishing under par today. The most important thing is that I am in the lead and ready to play in the last round tomorrow."
After shooting even-par on the front nine, the Mexican recorded birdies on Nos. 10-12 to open her lead.
Ochoa then bogeyed No. 15 for the third-straight day and also bogeyed the last hole to bring herself back to the pack.
Asked where a win Sunday would rank in her career, Ochoa said she doesn't want to think about it.
"Hopefully I win and jump in the lake and get that trophy and then I will let you now how high it is in my career," she said.
Ochoa leads South Korea's Hee-Won Han by one stroke and the trio of Cristie Kerr, Sweden's Maria Hjorth and South Korea's Seon Hwa Lee by two shots.
"I am proud, because I was able to just hang in there and really play with the lead. So it was tough, but I managed to do it," Ochoa said.
Annika Sorenstam, who is looking to win this event for the fourth time, had a turbulent round with four birdies and five bogeys.
"You know, after yesterday's round, I never really got better, had a hard time keeping the food down, and then this morning got some breakfast in and thought, 'This will be all right,' and then I come out here and the heat, and it was tougher than I thought it would be," Sorenstam said.
She finished one-over for the round - snapping her streak of 16 consecutive under-par rounds - and trails Ochoa by four strokes.
Sorenstam said not only is she not feeling well this week but the Palm Springs-area heat made things worse.
"I tried using an umbrella but it broke so then I gave up on that," Sorenstam said.
First-round leader and 2004 Women's British Open champion Karen Stupples struggled for the second consecutive day, carding a two-over 74, and is tied for 15th six strokes behind the leader.
Defending champion Morgan Pressel shot a 75 and is tied for 31st at four-over 220. Last season, as an 18-year-old, she became the youngest player to win a major on the LPGA Tour.
