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Lorena Opens A Lead

April 23, 2009
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After an eagle and six birdies Friday, Ochoa has gone 36 holes without a bogey.

MORELIA, Mexico (AP) -- Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight bogey-free 8-under 65 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead over Suzann Pettersen in the LPGA Tour's Corona Championship.

Ochoa, the top-ranked Mexican star who also won the 2006 tournament at Tres Marias, eagled the par-5 eighth hole and had six birdies. The fifth-ranked Pettersen shot a 64.

"I'm very satisfied with my putting," Ochoa said. "I was able to get the birdies and that makes me very happy. Hopefully, I can keep making them for me and the public.

"I do not feel the pressure. I don't have to. I'm going to play with joy. Suzann is a very good player, very aggressive. She had a great round."

Second-ranked Yani Tseng (66) and Na Yeon Choi (69) were five strokes back at 11 under, Kristy McPherson (68) was 10 under, and Michelle Wie (71) was 9 under along with Sarah Lee (70), Karrie Webb (67), Irene Cho (67) and Brittany Lang (68).

"It was kind of frustrating today," said, Wie a stroke behind Ochoa on Thursday after a 66. "I did not make a single putt out there today. Hopefully tomorrow I will make some birdies. It's going to be a great weekend. I am really looking forward to it. It's just a privilege to be able to play with the best players in the world."

Brittany Lincicome, coming off a major victory in the Kraft Nabisco on April 5, followed her opening 75 with a 73 to miss the cut.

Ochoa opened her season with a victory in the Honda LPGA Thailand, her 25th LPGA Tour title. She tied for 12th in the Nabisco in her last start.