Stanford charges ahead at Ochoa Invitational

Nov 15, 2008 - 12:30 PM GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Ticker) - Angela Stanford looks to continue her recent strong play during the third round of the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday.

Stanford has been on fire lately, winning the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in September and finishing in the top-4 in each of her three events since then. She was part of an eight-way tie for the lead after Thursday's first round, but took control during the second round with four birdies on the front nine Friday.

Stanford added three more on the back nine - overcoming a bogey on the 12th hole - to finish with a 6-under-par 66 and move to 10-under overall entering the weekend.

She holds a two-stroke lead over LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng, who shot her second consecutive 68 on Friday to hold strong at 8-under for the tournament.

Friday wasn't as kind, however, to Annika Sorenstam. Looking for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season - and first since announcing she will step away from competitive golf at the end of the year - Sorenstam was a co-leader after the first day and looked strong for most of Friday as well. However, she bogeyed three of the last four holes and finished the day at even par.

While she is still within striking distance, she is six strokes back at 4-under, locked in a six-way tie for fifth place.

Sorenstam's last victory was the Michelob ULTRA Open in May, but since then her best finish was a third-place showing at June's LPGA Championship.

Stanford, looking for her third career Tour victory, still has stiff competition to face over the next two days. South Korean Meena Lee carded a 69 to move to 6-under overall, four strokes out of the lead. Karen Stupples, one of the co-leaders through the first round, is in fourth place at 5-under following Friday's 71 showing.

The tournament's namesake, Ochoa, recovered from a disappointing performance in the first round with a 71, pulling even overall. She is tied for 22nd.

Ochoa is pulling double duty this week as she is hosting the $1 million event and playing alongside 35 other players at the Guadalajara Country Club. Though she grew up playing on this course, she struggled on Thursday, posting a 1-over 73.

In search of her eighth victory of the season, Ochoa has mathematically locked up the Rolex Player of the Year honors and is the star attraction in her native Guadalajara at the third and final Mexican event on the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule.

Ochoa is facing a field that includes 32 of the top 33 players on the 2008 LPGA Official Money List as well as five sponsor exemptions, two of whom - Juli Inkster and Laura Davies - have a combined 51 tour wins.

The event is serving as the final tune-up for players competing in the 2008 ADT Championship. It is the 15th LPGA Tour event hosted by an LPGA Tour player.

First prize is $200,000.