Ochoa shoots 7-under 64 at rainy Canadian Open

Updated: August 18, 2007, 9:56 PM ET

Comment Email Print Share

Associated Press

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Lorena Ochoa moved into position for her second straight victory and fifth of the season, shooting a 7-under 64 in rainy conditions Saturday to take a four-stroke lead in the Canadian Women's Open.

The top-ranked Mexican star, coming off her first major victory two weeks ago in the Women's British Open, had a 14-under 199 total on the Royal Mayfair course. She opened with rounds of 70 and 65 and hasn't made a bogey in 40 holes.

Canadian Open Leaderboard

1. Ochoa (-14)
T-2. Creamer (-10)
T-2. Diaz (-10)
4. Treng (-8)
T-5. Hall (-6)
T-5. Inkster (-6)

• Complete scores

"I had a really good day today, Ochoa said. "Tough to play in the rain, but I actually love the rain. It's been good to me. For some reason I just feel very comfortable. I started with a birdie on my second hole and gathered momentum from there. So here I am, in good position for tomorrow, and that's all that matters."

Paula Creamer (66) and Laura Diaz (68) were 10 under, Ya-Ni Tseng (67) followed at 8 under, and Juli Inkster (73) and Kimberly Hall (72) were 6 under. Shi Hyun Ahn, tied for the lead with Inkster after the second round, had a 74 to drop to 5 under.

"I made a lot of good putts," Creamer said. "I missed a ton of opportunities out there but considering the weather, I'll take 5 under."

Ochoa, a stroke behind Inkster and Ahn at the start of play Saturday, had five birdies in a front-nine 30 and added two more birdies on the back nine to match the course record set by Karrie Webb on Friday. Ochoa had a chance to break the record, but her 15-foot putt from the fringe on 18 stopped inches from the hole.

"I was thinking about the course record," Ochoa said. "It didn't happen, so I have one more day tomorrow. ... I'm an aggressive player. I was trying to make a lot of birdies and I don't regret that. That's the only way you can really shoot low and do something that they [the fans] can remember."

Ochoa and Creamer will play in the final group Sunday.

"Everybody knows she's the No. 1 player in the world," Creamer said. "But I don't think it's intimidation. I have a lot of respect for what she's done in women's golf, what she's done in Mexico. But at the same time, I'm still out here trying to compete, and I think I have a good chance of winning tomorrow."

Alena Sharp topped the three Canadians left in the field, shooting a 67 for a 4-under 209 total. The Hamilton, Ontario, player had three birdies on the back nine.

"I'm full of adrenaline right now, playing the back nine and shooting 3 under. I need to make sure I get rest and I stop thinking about golf," Sharp said. "I felt like I didn't have a lot of pressure going into today because I was eight shots back, but shooting a good round today, maybe there's a little pressure for tomorrow."

Nancy Harvey of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was 2 over after a 70, and A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, British Columbia, was 4 over after a 72.

U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr, the winner last at London Hunt in Ontario, was 11 strokes back at 3 under after a 71.