DANVILLE, Calif. — Topranked Lorena Ochoa birdied five of her last seven holes Saturday for a 7-under 65 and a share of the third-round lead with Sophie Gustafson in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Ochoa is winless in 10 starts since taking the Corona Championship in her native Mexico in late April. She has only two victories in 16 events this year after winning 21 times in the previous three years.
She was four strokes back after 10 holes, then used the strong finish - including a 16-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole - to match Gustafson at 16-under 200. Gustafson, winless since 2003, had a 66.
Angela Stanford and Sun Young Yoo were six strokes back at 10 under after 69s, and Paula Creamer (69), Morgan Pressel (67) Leta Lindley (66) and Maria Hjorth (72) followed at 9 under on the Blackhawk Country Club course.
Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) fell to a tie for 65th place after she shot a 3-over 75 on Saturday. She is at 2-over 218 for the tournament. Saturday's round included six bogeys and three birdies.
Audra Burks (Little Rock) posted a 7-over 79 on Saturday. Her round included two birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys and she is at 9-over (225) for the tournament.
Ochoa made consecutive birdies, while Gustafson three-putted the par-3 12th for a bogey. Ochoa birdied No. 15 to move into a tie.
Gustafson then birdied No. 17 to reach 16 under.
Ochoa's approach shot on the 18th rolled past the hole, but she sank the 16-foot putt for birdie, raising her first as the crowd cheered. Gustafson made a par.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Pernice leads in debut
CARY, N.C. - Tom Pernice Jr. moved into position to become the 15th player to win his Champions Tour debut,shooting his second bogeyfree 5-under 67 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead in the SAS Championship.
Pernice is trying to become the third player this year to win in his debut, following Tom Lehman, who teamed with Bernhard Langer in the Liberty Mutual Legends, and Senior PGA winner Michael Allen. In the 2007 SAS, Mark Wiebe won his tour debut. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player also won in their first senior starts.
Dan Forsman and firstround co-leaders Denis Watson and Russ Cochran were tied for second at Prestonwood Country Club.
NATIONWIDE Willis moves to the front
MIDLAND, Texas - Garrett Willis shot a 5-under par 67 to surge to the front of the pack after three rounds of play in the WNB Golf Classic. Willis is 16-under par for the tournament, two shots in front of J.J. Killeen, who started the day in a tie for 19th place, and Brendan Steele.
Craig Lile (Arkansas Razorbacks) was 5-under on Saturday and is at 206 for the tournament. Liles had seven birdies and two bogeys in his round on Saturday.
Scott Gardiner (Farmington) is at 206 for the tournament. Gardiner was 3-under on Saturday. His round included four birdies and one bogey.
Brenden Pappas (Razorbacks) was 1-under on Saturday. Pappas birdied his first three holes, but had only one more birdie the rest of the day while suffering three bogeys. Pappas is at 207 for the tournament.
Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) was 3-under par on Saturday and is at 209 for the tournament. Whittaker finished his round with an eagle on No. 18. He also had three birdies and two bogeys in his round.
Sports, Pages 42 on 09/27/2009