Ochoa Cements Spot As LPGA Top-Ranked Player With Two-Shot Lead

Clifton, NJ (AHN) -- LPGA Tour No. 1 player Lorena Ochoa shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead in the rain-shortened $2 million Sybase Classic on Saturday. The two-time defending champion stands at 9-under 135 and holds a five-shot lead on first-round tri-leader Annika Sorenstam, who announced her retirement from the sport at the end of the season earlier in the week. The tournament was shortened to 54 holes after Friday's scheduled second round was rained out. Ochoa will carry a two-shot lead over Teresa Lu and Sophie Gustafson into Sunday's final round while South Koreans H.J. Choi and Na Yeon Choi are both three shots back. Brittany Lang is four shots off the pace while Sorenstam shot a 1-over 73 to fall five shots back. Sorenstam had a double bogey when she hit a tree on a par-5, then bogeyed her final hole. Ochoa has won 16 of 23 LPGA events when leading heading into the final round and all five this year. Said Ochoa, "I don't need any more motivation. I am pretty motivated to win. And about Annika having all this time from the media, she deserves it. She knows I like to win, and I want to be on the top this year." Sorenstam is coming off back-to-back wins and appeared ready to challenge Ochoa for her No. 1 ranking after firing a 67 to share the first-round lead on Thursday. Ochoa opened with a 68.