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Ochoa leads by seven in Singapore

Fri 29th, February 2008

Singapore (Sports Network) - Lorena Ochoa fired a seven-under 65 on Friday to open up a seven-shot lead after two rounds of the HSBC Women's Champions tournament.

Ochoa made six birdies in a seven-hole stretch at Singapore's Tanah Merah Country Club, then two more birdies later in the round. She had just one bogey -- her first bogey of the season.

The 65 counted as her best round since Aug. 17, when she shot a 64 in the third round of the Canadian Women's Open, one of her eight victories in 2007.

Ochoa is making her season debut this week.

"It was one of those days you really want to memorize and hopefully repeat," said Ochoa, the LPGA Tour's reigning Player of the Year, who was at 13-under 131 overall.

Ochoa's nearest competition is a trio of players tied for second place at six- under 138, including the young season's first two winners: Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer.

Sorenstam, now ranked No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa, shot a five-under 67 in the second round, while Creamer had a 71. The third player at 138, In-Kyung Kim, posted a 70.

Karrie Webb (70), Stacy Prammanasudh (69) and Linda Wessberg (71) were tied at five-under 139, with Natalie Gulbis (68) and Jee Young Lee (72) a shot further back at 140.

Overall, there were only 14 players in a field of 78 within 10 shots of Ochoa's lead.

The Mexican star made four consecutive birdies putts from the fourth hole on Friday, the longest from 12 feet at the sixth. She two-putted from 25 feet at the ninth for another birdie after knocking her second shot onto the green with a five-iron from 175 yards.

The sixth birdie in her seven-hole run came from 12 feet at the 10th, but was followed by her only bogey at the 13th, where she took an unplayable lie off the tee.

Ochoa chipped to inches for a birdie at the 16th, a 269-yard par four, then holed an 18-foot putt at the 17th for her eighth birdie of the day.

She has won the last two 72-hole tournaments in which she has held the second- round lead.

"A round like today really helps me to improve with my game, to learn to be in the lead and just stay there," said Ochoa, who was also the first-round leader. "It has been great, the first two days, and I'm going to make sure I keep doing the same in the next two days."

Sorenstam, who won the season-opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay, had five birdies in a spotless round Friday. She finished the round with three consecutive birdies.

Saturday, she will join Ochoa in the final threesome for the third round.

"There's no doubt Lorena is playing well," said Sorenstam, who was coming off her first winless season since 1994, "so I've got to do the same again to catch up."

Where the players come to play and STAY.