Ochoa has slim lead
Lorena Ochoa trudged up a grassy mound to the right of the fifth green with a wedge in her hand, searching for a rare errant shot. She found the ball in the bunker, much to her relief, blasted over a steep lip and saved par.
That was all the trauma she could stand in one day at Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Md.
It was the only fairway and the only green she missed. Ochoa was practically perfect Friday in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, making enough of her 17 birdie chances for a 7-under-par 65 and a one-shot lead over Lindsey Wright. There was no stress, no par putt longer than 3 feet, and not much to ruin a day when golf felt as simple as walking.
“My best round in the season,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa’s 65 matched her best score of the season and topped by three shots her best score in this major. She was at 10-under 134, the lowest 36-hole score at Bulle Rock since the LPGA Championship moved here in 2005.
Lorie Kane made three straight birdies to catch Ochoa in the afternoon, but the Canadian had to settle for a 70 and was two behind.
Three-time LPGA champion Annika Sorenstam tried to make a move with a 68, but she was still four shots behind.
But she sounded as though she anticipated a duel with the No. 1 player on Sunday.
“I think I’m in good shape,” Sorenstam said. “I’m just waiting for the putts to drop. It could be a lot of fun.”
Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum shot a 73 and was tied for 52nd while Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., missed the cut.
PGA
Tommy Armour III double-bogeyed No. 18 and fell into a six-way tie atop the leaderboard after two rounds at the Stanford St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn., on a day where only 13 players were under par. It was the most players tied for lead at the halfway point on the PGA Tour since a six-way tie last year at the Shell Houston Open.
Armour finished with a 71. He was tied with Gavin Coles, whose 64 was the low round through the first two days, Dean Wilson (68), Jason Dufner (68), Michael Bradley (68) and Marc Turnesa (69) at 3-under 137 – the highest 36-hole total on the PGA Tour since Angel Cabrera at the Open last year when he was at even par-140.