SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. — Lorena Ochoa moved into position for her second straight Safeway International victory and second win in three starts this year, shooting a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday to take the third-round lead.
After outdueling close friend Angela Stanford on Saturday, Ochoa will be paired with Jee Young Lee today at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club.
“It’ll be a fun day,” said Ochoa, a stroke ahead of Stanford and Lee.
“She (Lee) hits the ball very far. She jokes to me she beats me with the driver. (Today) will be a good laugh to see who hits farther.”
Stanford followed bogeys on 13 and 14 with two finishing birdies for a 70. Lee fired her third consecutive 67.
At a 16-under 200, Ochoa matched the best 54-hole total since the tournament moved to Superstition Mountain five years ago. Annika Sorenstam also was 16-under in 2004 on her way to a course record 18-under 270 total, matched last year by Ochoa.
Ochoa, the HSBC Champions winner this year in Singapore, is seeking her 16th victory in her last 48 starts since 2006 and 19th overall LPGA Tour win.
The six players within six shots of her have a combined four LPGA Tour victories. The closest rival with similar experience was Sorenstam, seven strokes back after a 71.
Langer takes Ginn lead.
Bernhard Langer birdied his first two holes at the Ocean Hammock Golf Club, then avoided the mistakes that plagued his closest rivals in the Champions Tour’s Ginn Championship in Palm Coast, Fla.
The two-time Masters champion was one of only two players without a bogey on the windy Oceanside course. He shot a 6-under 66 to reach 11-under 133 and move two strokes ahead of career club pro Lonnie Nielsen (69).
Fred Funk (69), tied with Langer with three holes to play, made a bogey at No. 16 and a double bogey at No. 17 to fall into third at 8-under.
Two peers of Langer’s in the Hall of Fame, Nick Price (67) and Ben Crenshaw (68), were 5-under along with Joe Ozaki (65) and Mark McNulty (69).
Langer has won twice in 10 career starts on the Champions Tour.
Lightning suspends Zurich Classic.
Woody Austin, Nicholas Thompson, Peter Lonard and Briny Baird topped the Zurich Classic leaderboard at 8-under when rain, lightning and thunder forced the suspension of third-round play in Avondale, La.
The 35 players unable to finish will try to complete the round today.
“We think we can get it all in, but everyone will have to keep moving,” PGA Tour media official Joan Alexander said.
Austin had seven holes to play, Thompson eight, Lonard 14 and Baird 15. John Senden was the leader in the clubhouse at 7-under after a 66.
Westwood leads by one.
Defending champion Lee Westwood shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over three players after the third round at the Andalucia Open in Puerto Banus, Spain.
Westwood had birdies at the first five holes to move to the top of the leaderboard at 12-under 204.
Oliver Fisher rolled in a 35-footer at the par-4 18th to finish with a bogey-free 67. The 19- year-old is at 11-under 205.
Fisher was joined by fellow Englishman David Lynn (68) and France’s Thomas Levet (68) at 205.
