Mexico's Ochoa maintains 3-stroke lead

MORELIA—Lorena Ochoa moved closer to her first LPGA Tour victory in her homeland, shooting a 5-under 68 on Saturday to maintain a three-stroke lead with one round left in the Corona Morelia Championship.
The 24-year-old star from Guadalajara, seeking her fourth victory of the season, had a 16-under 203 total. She stayed consistent, hitting straight drives and safe approaches that kept her out of trouble on the hilly Tres Marias course.
"I don't like to think about being ahead or winning, or wanting to win," she said. "Obviously my dream is to win and it could be a dream come true."
Paraguay's Julieta Granada (66) was second at 13 under. First-round leader Brandie Burton (67) was 9 under, and Christina Kim (65) and Young Jo (69) were another stroke back. Wendy Ward (71) and 18-year-old Morgan Pressel (71) were 7 under.
The third round didn't feature the same fireworks for Ochoa as Friday, when she shot a course-record 64 to move atop the leaderboard. Still, she got aggressive at times, knocking a 7-iron from 177 yards away, then making the subsequent 10-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 10th. She also converted five birdies to offset a pair of bogeys.
"I've played a lot of tournaments in Mexico. ... I'm just looking at this as one more round," Ochoa said. "I think that mentally and strategically I'm in a better place and that makes me very relaxed."
Ochoa's success Friday swelled the crowds following her from hole-to-hole to more than 600 a day later. Every long putt she made was greeted by whoops and whistles, chants of "Let's Go Lorena!" and even a couple of marriage proposals. Many fans wore red caps embroidered with Ochoa's 'L' logo.
The former University of Arizona player was a non-factor at last year's inaugural Corona Morelia Championship and at the LPGA Tour's MasterCard Classic played outside Mexico City in March 2005 and 2006. She faltered under pressure, seemingly pressing too hard to impress droves fans, who hung on her every swing.
But a solid day Sunday should dispel forever questions about Ochoa's struggles south of the border, where her success has made golf front-page news — even in a soccer-obsessed nation. Charming and colonial Morelia is 175 miles from Guadalajara and dozens of Ochoa's friends and family members were among those who followed her round.
"What happens on the 18th green tomorrow will be something extremely emotional," Ochoa said, refusing to divulge how she might celebrate a victory.—Agencies