Rookie Francella knocks Ochoa out of Match Play
Meaghan Francella knocked off another top-ranked player, beating Lorena Ochoa yesterday in the
Francella, an LPGA Tour rookie from nearby Port Chester, thrilled her large, vocal gallery with a 1-up, second-round victory over Ochoa.
"The whole day was pretty stressful, to be honest with you," Francella said. "I just tried to stay patient and hit one shot at a time."
In March in Mexico, Francella beat Annika Sorenstam -- then the No. 1 player -- on the fourth hole of a playoff to win the MasterCard Classic for her first tour title.
"My hands were probably shaking more against Annika," Francella said. "I just felt pretty confident all day."
After losing the par-4 14th with a bogey, Francella took the par-4 15th and par-5 16th with pars to take a 1-up lead. They matched pars on the par-3 17th and Francella finished off Ochoa with a conceded birdie on the par-5 18th.
Facing a blind second shot on 18, Francella hit a 3-wood onto the green. "I just picked out a cloud," she said. "I didn't know where it went and then I heard the claps and I figured, 'OK, we're at the front.' And then I got there and I'm like, 'Unbelievable, 30 feet for eagle.' "
No. 3 Sorenstam, No. 5 Se Ri Pak, No. 7 Suzann Pettersen, and No. 8 Paula Creamer were beaten; No. 10 Mi Hyun Kim is the top remaining seed in the final 16.
PGA -- Joe Ogilvie shot a 7-under-par 63 (10-under 130) to take a two-shot lead after two rounds of the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
Ogilvie has made seven straight cuts, but hasn't had anything close to a top-10 finish. "I haven't played great since I've made the cut," said Ogilvie, who birdied three of the final four holes.
First-round co-leader Jeff Maggert shot a 69 was at 8 under along with Garrett Willis (68).
Ogilvie, 33, is in the field in Milwaukee for the first time since 2002 after playing in two British Opens. He's never won on tour, but has three seconds.
