Ochoa poised for inaugural major win

BY iseekgolf.com | LPGA Tour | 2007 Ricoh Women's British Open | Round Three | 05 Aug 2007

World number one Lorena Ochoa fought strong winds to stretch her lead to six strokes heading into the final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open on the Old Course at St Andrews.

The Mexican shot a level-par 73 for the second day running to finish at six-under-par 213 and was the only player under par for the tournament.

Sweden’s Linda Wessberg carded a 72 and finished as Ochoa’s closest challenger on level par. Meanwhile France’s Karine Icher (77) and South Korea’s Jee Young Lee (75) tied for third position on one-over-par with Swedes Maria Hjorth (72) and Annika Sorenstam (77).

Ochoa was one of just four players to card rounds of par or better on a day when the auld links bared its teeth.

“It was one of my best rounds in my golf career,” said Ochoa, who was followed around the historic course by a trail of supporters carrying Mexican flags and cheering.

“It’s just a mental game, and you get really tired. You feel twice as good when you give yourself a birdie opportunity. It’s like, ‘wow! We’re actually playing for birdie!’”

Ochoa, a winner of 12 LPGA Tour titles, is eyeing her first major championship and joked that she may obey her superstitions ahead of her final round by sitting down to a breakfast identical to the one that set her on her way for her third round. But despite the prospect of becoming the first ever female professional to win at St Andrews, she wasn’t too nervous and was expecting a full night’s sleep.

“I couldn’t ask for a better position. Having the lead going into tomorrow – I’m really happy,” she said.

“That’s what I wanted to do at the beginning of the week -give myself a good chance on Sunday. I have, and I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Normally, only a dramatic collapse or a spectacular round elsewhere would stand between Ochoa and her first Major title. On a day when many players slipped away, Ochoa was solid. She carded three birdies and three bogeys, finding only her second bunker of the three days on the par-four 13th.

Not everyone was as sturdy as Ochoa. A strong North Sea wind was the protagonist as several players with realistic hopes of catching the 25-year-old saw their rounds collapse.

Former winner Sherri Steinhauer went from three-under-par at the start of the day to four-over, while Scotland’s Catriona Matthew – who was cheered ceremoniously by the faithful home supporters – could not match the expectation that had greeted her ascent to tied-second-place status after the second day.

She carded a three-over 80 to finish on two-over-par for the tournament, as did American veteran Wendy Ward, who slipped away on the back nine.

Wessberg was one of just three players to card a sub-par round. The 27-year-old produced a round of four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey to finish on one-under for the day, becoming Ochoa’s nearest rival.

“I’m excited,” said Wessberg, who won the first of her two LET titles at the Wales Ladies Championship last year, before collecting the Vediorbis Open de France Dames in June.

“The way I’m playing, it’s really good fun. We had a lot of cross winds too, so it was quite difficult.”

American Stacy Prammanasudh carded a 72 and was the only other player to beat par.

It was a disappointing day for England’s Rebecca Hudson, 28, who made a great start, birdying the first to move to four-under-par for the tournament.

A bogey on the next hole took her back to level for the day, while three consecutive bogeys on the front nine further eroded her previous days’ scores. She dropped six shots on the back nine to finish the day at six-over for the tournament.

Sorenstam is one of four players seven shots off the pace and she added: “That’s what you get when it’s this windy – it can change so much. If you shoot par you can really make a move.

“I didn’t have a score in mind. I tried to be smart and hit fairways and greens. I am pleased with the way I am hitting it and pleased with my putting. I just need a few to drop.”

Ochoa and Wessberg will tee off in the final match tomorrow at 12.55pm local time, with the first tee time at 6.45am.

Source – LET