Havre De Grace, MD--
Each and every day that we watch the play of Lorena Ochoa we see why she is becoming one of the best female the golfers in LPGA history. She has most players on the tour wondering her secrets to success.
Today it was that success that was no secret as she took the lead to the McDonalds LPGA Championship with a 10-under 134, the lowest 36-hole score at Bulle Rock since the LPGA Championship moved here in 2005.
"I think it's just good to be in the lead ... because my name means something, you know?" she said. "In a way, that's what I'm trying to do -- to put pressure on other players and to let them know that you want to win."
It might be her last season on the LPGA Tour, but do not count out the veteran Annika Sorenstam, who has three LPGA titles and seemed to find her magic on the front nine today and continued on the back nine going -1 under to finish the day at 6-under.
I think I'm in good shape," Sorenstam said. "I played well here in the past. It's a major, and 36 holes is nothing. The way I'm hitting it, I'm just waiting for the putts to drop. It could be a lot of fun."
For Ochoa, she played the entire round practically flawlessly... well not exactly, she did hit one ball into the rough on the fifth hole, but she like the true warrior she is bounced right back with a huge blast over a steep lie and was able to save par and continue on the her way to a very impressive round that has people talking a major for the weekend.
Ochoa took the lead with one final birdie, a 20-footer on the 18th hole and curled into the side of the cup. Ochoa swung her leg and pumped her fist, happy to see the last putt fall on a day when she missed a half-dozen putts shorter than that.
Other notables on the day included 2007 Champion, Suzann Pettersen, who continued a little bit of a charge and finished the day at 5-under to remain in contention.
Paula Creamer had an impressive afternoon remaining in contention at 3- under.
