Golf roundup
Ochoa moves closer to first LPGA Tour victory MORELIA, Mexico (AP) – Lorena Ochoa moved closer to her first LPGA Tour victory in her homeland, shooting a 5-under 68 on Saturday to maintain a three-stroke lead with one round left in the Corona Morelia Championship.
The 24-year-old star from Guadalajara, seeking her fourth victory of the season, had a 16-under 203 total. She stayed consistent, hitting straight drives and safe approaches that kept her out of trouble on the hilly Tres Marias course.
Paraguay’s Julieta Granada (66) was second at 13 under. First-round leader Brandie Burton (67) was 9 under, and Christina Kim (65) and Young Jo (69) were another stroke back. Wendy Ward (71) and 18-year-old Morgan Pressel (71) were 7 under.
The third round did not feature the same fireworks for Ochoa as Friday, when she shot a course-record 64. Still, she got aggressive at times, recording an eagle on the 466-yard, par-5 10th. She also converted five birdies to offset a pair of bogeys.
Ochoa’s success Friday swelled the crowds following her from hole-to-hole to more than 600 a day later. Every long putt she made was greeted by whoops and whistles, chants of “Let’s Go Lorena!” and even a couple of marriage proposals. Many fans wore red caps embroidered with Ochoa’s ‘L’ logo.
Chrysler Classic
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Davis Love III shot a 4-under 68 in rainy, cool conditions on the course he redesigned to gain a share of the lead after the third round of the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
Chris Couch, who won his first PGA Tour title in New Orleans in April, had a 69 to match Love at 10-under 206 on the Forest Oaks Country Club course. Chris Smith (69), Steve Flesch (69) and John Senden (71) were a stroke back.
Love, who was in charge of changing and lengthening the layout in 2003 to 7,333 yards, had not used the knowledge to his advantage. He twice missed the cut and withdrew in the three tournaments held since the changes.
But Love, left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team, birdied the first two holes and the 18th Saturday to put himself into contention for his first PGA Tour win since 2003.
SAS Championship
CARY, N.C. – Tom Jenkins moved into contention for his seventh career Champions Tour victory, shooting a 6-under 66 in cool and misty conditions to take the lead into the final round of the SAS Championship.
The 58-year-old Jenkins had a 10-under 134 total on the Prestonwood Country Club course, one stroke better than Champions Tour money leader Loren Roberts and tour newcomer Chip Beck.
Roberts, a four-time winner this year who also tops the Charles Schwab Cup points race, followed a first-round 67 with a 68, while Beck, making his third Champions Tour start, shot a 65. Jay Haas, 20 points behind Roberts in the Schwab Cup standings, was three strokes back at 7 under after a 66.
Dunhill Links
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Wales’ Bradley Dredge shot a 1-under 71 at Kingsbarns to maintain a one-stroke lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Dredge had a 13-under 202 total entering the final round at St. Andrews.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was second after a 68 at Carnoustie.