Australians challenge Ochoa at LPGA
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 McDonalds LPGA Championship | Round Two | 07 Jun 2008
Lorena Ochoa might have had two weeks away from tournament play but it took her only one round to get rid of the rust in her system. Ochoa’s second round of 65 at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship has her right on track to win her third consecutive major championship and her 7th LPGA Tour title of the season.
Ochoa played early on day two at the Bulle Rock Golf Club in Havre de Grace in Maryland and was quickly making ground on the leaders after an opening round of 69 had left her in 9th position.
Just as she had in round one, Ochoa birdied the 3rd and 4th and 8th holes, although yesterday they were in the closing stages of her round while today they set up an opportunity for a strong back nine. She did just that with three birdies in her last four holes and when she walked from the golf course at around 1.00pm she had the lead.
“It was a great day,” said Ochoa after her round. “It was just easy – one of those days that I hit a lot of fairways – apparently all of them, if I am not wrong. And I think I gave myself like 17 birdie chances. It was very easy. I did enjoy it a lot. I’m going to try the do two more rounds like that -stress free. It could have been one of those days I could have shoot 10 or 11 under. I am glad I hit my driver good. I think for a major it’s always important to hit your driver good and hopefully I continue the same.”
Playing one group after Ochoa but on the other side of the golf course, Australian Lindsey Wright was continuing her love affair with Bulle Rock when, after an opening round of 65, she reached the turn in three under 33 and had the lead before a bogey at the 12th hole slowed her momentum. Ochoa went past Wright with her strong finish but two birdies in her last three holes moved the 38 year old from Albury Wodonga within one.
Wright finished 4th in this event in 2007 after a final round of 66 and clearly she enjoys the golf course.
“Yeah, I just love this golf course,” said Wright after her opening round of 66. “I’ve played it 30 odd times now, so it’s nothing new. I know where to hit it, where not to hit it and what the predominant wind is going to be.”
“I think every year I’ve gotten better and just worked on things and it’s just progressively getting better than where I was at four years ago really,” added Wright.
“I mean four years ago I would panic if I got anywhere near the top ten. Like that was a new experience then and now it’s nice just to kind of be in the situation and I’m more comfortable.”
Later in the day the 43-year-old Canadian, Lorie Kane, threatened to take the outright 36 hole lead when she reached the turn in 32 and at that point shared the lead with Ochoa. Two dropped shots over her final nine holes would see Kane slip back to outright third behind Ochoa and Wright.
Rachel Hetherington, Ji-Young Oh and Jin-Joo Hong are one shot further back at 7 under while Annika Sorenstam stayed in touch with a second round of 68 to be at 6 under and in a share of 7th place with yet another Australian, Michelle Ellis.
Another pre-tournament favourite and the defending champion, Suzann Pettersen is at 5 under and not yet out of contention.
Karrie Webb is in 31st position at 2 under, Wendy Doolan 62nd, while fellow Australians, Sarah Jane Kenyon, Katherine Hull and Anna Rawson will be watching the final two rounds from their lounges.
