Ochoa has eye on win, Hall
MORELIA, Mexico - Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight 7-under-par 66 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead in the Corona Championship and move a step closer to becoming the youngest player to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
"It was a great day," Ochoa said. "No bogeys. I enjoyed that very much."
South Korea's Inbee Park was second after a 9-under 64 that included 10 birdies and tied the course record set by Ochoa in 2006 and 2007.
Ochoa, the Kraft Nabisco Championship winner last Sunday to claim her second straight major victory and third victory in three starts this year, said she liked the close competition because it pushed her to focus.
"It makes me more aggressive and try to catch up, but either way, tomorrow I'm going to play like I'm three or four shots behind and try to win the tournament," the 20-time LPGA Tour winner said.
If the 26-year-old Ochoa wins tomorrow, she will earn the last of the 27 points needed to qualify for the Hall of Fame.
The youngest to qualify previously was Se Ri Pak, who was 26 when she won the Michelob Ultra Open in 2004.
On Thursday, Ochoa eagled two par 5s in a 66 to tie for the lead with South Korea's Song-Hee Kim. Yesterday, Ochoa eagled the par-5 10th.
Kim was three strokes back after a 69.
