MORELIA, Mexico – Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight bogey-free 8-under-par 65 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead over Suzann Pettersen in the LPGA Tour’s Corona Championship.
Ochoa, a former Arizona Wildcat who also won the 2006 tournament at Tres Marias, eagled the par-5 eighth hole and had six birdies. The fifth-ranked Pettersen shot a 64.
“I’m very satisfied with my putting,” Ochoa said. “I was able to get the birdies and that makes me very happy. Hopefully, I can keep making them for me and the public.
“I do not feel the pressure. I don’t have to. I’m going to play with joy. Suzann is a very good player, very aggressive. She had a great round.”
Second-ranked Yani Tseng (66) and Na Yeon Choi (69) were five strokes back at 11-under, Kristy McPherson (68) was 10-under, and Michelle Wie (71) was 9-under along with Sarah Lee (70), Karrie Webb (67), Irene Cho (67) and Brittany Lang (68).
“It was kind of frustrating today,” said Wie, a stroke behind Ochoa on Thursday after a 66. “I did not make a single putt out there today.
“Hopefully tomorrow I will make some birdies. It’s going to be a great weekend. I am really looking forward to it. It’s just a privilege to be able to play with the best players in the world.”
Brittany Lincicome, coming off a major victory in the Kraft Nabisco on April 5, followed her opening 75 with a 73 to miss the cut.
Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La. – Jerry Kelly moved into position for his first PGA Tour victory since his breakthrough 2002 season, shooting a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead over Troy Matteson and Charley Hoffman in the Zurich Classic.
Kelly had a 10-under 134 total on the TPC Louisiana course. His lone tour victories came in 2002 – in the Sony Open and Western Open.
Champions Tour
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Tom Lehman got off to a fast start in his Champions Tour debut, teaming with Bernhard Langer to take a share of the first-round lead in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf at 11-under 61
Fuzzy Zoeller and John Jacobs also shot a 61 in the better-ball event.