World number one Lorena Ochoa finished with bogeys on three of the last six holes but still kept a three-shot lead after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Ginn Tribute.
Ochoa stood on 11-under par 205 after 54 holes with American Nicole Castrale three strokes back in second and South Korean Angela Park and United States veteran Cristie Kerr sharing third on 209 in the rain-soaked $2,2-million tournament.
American Angela Stanford was fifth on 211.
Ochoa opened with a bogey but responded with birdies at the par-five third hole plus the fifth and sixth. She closed the front nine with an eagle on the par-five ninth and birdied the 12th to seize command.
But Ochoa fell back within reach of the top handful of rivals with bogeys at the 13th, 16th and 17th holes.
”I made a couple of bogeys at the end, but I’m still really pleased with the round,” Ochoa said, noting that sometimes heavy rain made the day difficult for everyone. ”I think a couple under for a day like today is good.
”I’m just trying to put it that way and be positive. I feel angry and just a little frustrated playing so good, you know, and just finishing with those — I 3-putted 16 and three-putted 17.
”The important thing is that I’m still in the lead, three shots, and I’m in a good position for tomorrow.”
Ochoa’s bogey at 13 coincided with a delay as water was cleared from that green.
”The wait was OK,” she said. ”It was not too difficult, because we ate and finally got some time and we’re just talking.
”But the problems, I was on the bunker with a four-iron in my hand, and just pouring rain, it wasn’t looking good.
”So I just hit it out and just trying to make up-and-down for par and it didn’t happen. It was OK. It was just a long day overall.”
Ochoa took over the world’s top ranking from Annika Sorenstam, who is playing in her first tournament since missing nearly two months with a ruptured disk and a bulging disk in her back.
Sorenstam fired a 74 to stand on 217, 12 off the pace.
Sorenstam said that while her back had healed, she didn’t feel she was back to full fitness.
”You know, the tests that they do, they tell me I’m fine, but I felt a little tired this morning,” she said. ”I really couldn’t get some clubhead speed.
”I’m not surprised that I’m tired, that my muscles are just feeling it.”
However, she said she still expected to play the LPGA Championship next week, and was glad to have a chance to play the weekend here.
”I do think that I have to adjust my practice schedule next week,” she said. ”It’s good that I’m playing this weekend, but body-wise, I’m not really ready.”
As tournament host, Sorenstam regretted the rain that made Saturday’s round a slog.
”I thought it was tough today,” she said. ”Constant rain, some wind at times. The course changed a little bit because of all the rain. Some greens are a little softer, some were not.
”It puts a little damper on the event, but I don’t think that much.”
Castrale’s 68 included five birdies with just one bogey, at the par-four 18th.
”You definitely have to stay patient out there when the conditions are like this,” she said. ”I just really go out there and try to hit fairways and greens and make putts from there.
”The rough is penalising with it being wet and heavy. So you really need to keep it in the fairway and then go from there.” – Sapa-AFP