Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore, Saturday, February 1, 2008 – Lorena Ochoa improved her lead to eight strokes with a third-round 3-under-par 69 at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore. She sits comfortably atop the leaderboard for the third consecutive day, entering Sunday's final round at 16-under-par (66-65-69=200).
"(It was) very different from the first two rounds, but I still managed to score and that’s what matters," said Ochoa, who has shot three consecutive rounds in the 60's. "I’m happy where I am and I’m excited to be here tomorrow."
A steady rain fell throughout the morning and Saturday's scores reflected the weather. The scoring average of the field was up nearly two strokes, but Ochoa still managed to tie for low round of the day with a 69. She notched five birdies and two bogies on the day. The reigning Rolex Player of the Year will tee off in the final group on Sunday alongside LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer, both of whom have won tournaments in 2008.
Sorenstam recovered from a double bogey on the tenth hole to fire a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday, enough to lock her in a tie for second place with Creamer. The Swede recorded five birdies - including four from 4 feet or closer - along with a bogey on hole 11 to get to 8-under-par (71-67-70=208). 21 of Sorenstam's 70 career victories have been come-from-behind wins. In 2001, she tied an LPGA record at the The Office Depot Hosted by Amy Alcott when she came from 10 strokes down to win in a one-hole sudden death playoff. That is the only time she has come back from more than a five shot deficit.
Creamer likewise carded 70 in the third round. The 21-year-old made bogey on the last hole to slip into a tie for second with Sorenstam. She recorded four birdies and two bogies on the day.
The final group of Ochoa, Sorenstam and Creamer will tee off at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday at Tanah Merah Country Club's Garden Course. The winner of the $2 million HSBC Women's Champions will earn one of 13 automatic births into the LPGA's season-ending ADT Championship.
Lorena Ochoa has entered the final round with a lead 18 times in her career. She has won 11 times, finished second six times and finished third once. She most recently entered the final round with a lead at the 2007 Samsung World Championship where she held a one-stroke advantage with Suzann Pettersen over three players. She went on to win by four shots over Mi Hyun Kim.
Australia's Karrie Webb fired a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday to move into fourth place at the HSBC Women's Champions. The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member is nine shots off the pace of leader Lorena Ochoa following four birdies and two bogies in the third round. Webb is playing in her first LPGA tournament of the season. She previously won the MFS Women's Australian Open on the ALPG in February.
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