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Ochoa Stays Close In LPGA Championship

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The Associated Press

Published: June 6, 2008

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. - Lorena Ochoa had sufficiently recovered from a double bogey and was slowly making her way up the leaderboard Thursday in the McDonald's LPGA Championship when she stopped to ask a question on her way to the next tee.

"What did Annika shoot today?" she asked.

Told that Sorenstam had a 2-under 70 in the morning, Ochoa nodded her head.

Then she made sure she was one better.

Ochoa didn't finish in the lead, but she was close enough to be satisfied with her start. Four birdies on her flawless back nine at Bulle Rock gave her a 3-under 69, leaving Ochoa three shots behind Lorie Kane of Canada and Emily Bastel as she tries to become only the fourth woman to win three straight majors.

"Today was important just not to get away too far from the leaders, and that's why I'm so happy that I did," Ochoa said. "Three under for the first day of a major is good, even though I had the double bogey.

"And hopefully, tomorrow I'll have a great round."

Neither of the leaders have had a top 10 all year, and Kane has struggled to make cuts. But they found their way across a long and soggy golf course, which took on so much rain overnight that fairways felt like carpet in a home that had been flooded.

"Am I surprised by a low round? I knew it was in me, and I know I have a lot more of those," Kane said. "I know it's a long way to Sunday, but I am encouraged by what's been happening the last few weeks."

Bastel finished her bogey-free 66 with a hybrid into 12 feet for birdie on the 18th hole, one of two holes where the tees were moved up some 30 yards to accommodate the wet conditions.
Lindsey Wright had a 67 and was one shot behind, followed by a group at 68 that included Nicole Castrale.

PGA: Combining his usual strong ball-striking with efficient putting, Boo Weekley shot a 5-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Stanford St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn. He closed with a birdie on No. 18 to move a stroke ahead of Tommy Armour III.

Armour, who shot a 66, had been tied with Weekley at 5 under. But Armour bogeyed his 16th hole about the same time Weekley finished up with his birdie to take the lead.

Vijay Singh survived an afternoon rollercoaster featuring two bogeys, a double bogey, an eagle and five birdies for a 67.

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