Stanford has slim lead at Ochoa Invitational

Nov 16, 2008 - 2:02 AM GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Ticker) - Angela Stanford has a one-stroke lead after the third round of the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday.

Stanford battled to an even-par 72 and is at 10-under-par 206.

Annika Sorenstam pulled within a shot of Stanford with a 5-under 67 and Katherine Hull is at 8-under 208 after a 66.

Stanford has been on fire lately, winning the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in September and finishing in the top-4 in each of her three events since then. She was part of an eight-way tie for the lead after Thursday's first round, but took control during the second round with four birdies on the front nine Friday.

She had a much tougher time on the front nine on Saturday. She bogeyed Nos. 2 and 5 before her first birdie of the day at the sixth. Stanford had her only other birdie of the day at No. 16, but it was enough to keep her in the lead.

"It was definitely a grind out there today. My swing felt all over the map, and fortunately I was able to save some pars," Stanford said. "I had to really remind myself that this is a marathon, it's not a sprint and that there are going to be many bogeys.

"I knew I wasn't feeling quite right today, so my mind set after I made the first couple of bogeys is, you know, I can't be that upset with par today. I just need to make as many pars as I can, and when I get birdie chances, try to make them."

Sorenstam could have had the lead but a pair of late bogeys kept her from overtaking Stanford. She rebounded from bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 with a closing birdie to get to 9-under 207.

Sorenstam is looking for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season - and first since announcing she will step away from competitive golf at the end of the year. Sorenstam's last victory was the Michelob ULTRA Open in May, but since then her best finish was a third-place showing at June's LPGA Championship.

"Obviously I'm very pleased with my round. I thought I played very well, and hit a lot of good shots. Rolled in some nice putts today," Sorenstam said. "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. When you get the birdies going, it's easier to get the momentum."

Hull fired a bogey-free 66 and had five of her six birdies on the front nine.

"I played really well on the front nine. I hit nine greens, and then made some good putts. So that was kind of a nice start," Hull said. "Then I just couldn't get anything it going really on the back nine. Kind of hit just a few slow points and then still hit some good shots but just couldn't make a putt until 16.

"Overall I'm pretty happy with the round and very happy with the position I'm in going into tomorrow."

The tournament's namesake, Ochoa, carded a 70 on Saturday and is tied for 13th at 2-under.

"I moved up a few places and that's important," Ochoa said. "I made more birdies today, a few mistakes but I think the birdies are fun for me and for the gallery and hopefully tomorrow it's even better."

Ochoa is pulling double duty this week as she is hosting the $1 million event and playing alongside 35 other players at the Guadalajara Country Club. In search of her eighth victory of the season, Ochoa has mathematically locked up the Rolex Player of the Year honors and is the star attraction in her native Guadalajara at the third and final Mexican event on the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule.

The event is serving as the final tune-up for players competing in the 2008 ADT Championship. It is the 15th LPGA Tour event hosted by an LPGA Tour player.

First prize is $200,000.