DANVILLE, Calif. – World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa fired a 7-under 65 to join Sophie Gustafson in the lead after three rounds of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Gustafson, who led after the first two rounds, posted a 6-under 66 and along with Ochoa shares a six-stroke lead at 16-under-par 200. They missed 54-hole scoring record by a single stroke.
Angela Stanford and Sun Young Yoo both posted 3-under 69s Saturday and share third place at minus-10.
Gustafson looked as though she was going to run away with the title on the front nine. She poured in four birdies in a five-hole span from the second to jump to 14 under. Her lead was three at that point.
The Swede pushed her lead to four strokes with a birdie on the 10th at Blackhawk Country Club.
Meanwhile, Ochoa was playing steady golf. She birdied the fifth and sixth to go with nine pars over the first 11 holes. Things started to change in Ochoa’s favor at the 12th.
Ochoa rolled in a 6-foot birdie effort, while Gustafson tripped to a bogey and her lead was down to two. Ochoa made it two straight with an 8-footer for birdie on 13.
The Mexican forged a tie for the lead with a 13-foot birdie putt on the 15th. Both Ochoa and Gustafson birdied the par-3 16th to remain tied for the lead at 15 under.
Gustafson carded her second straight birdie on the 17th to move one ahead of her playing partner. Ochoa erased that gap with a birdie on the 18th.
Leta Lindley matched Ochoa’s 66 to move into a share of fifth at 9-under-par 207. She was joined there by Maria Hjorth (72), Paula Creamer (69) and Morgan Pressel (67).
Christina Kim (65) and Amanda Blumenherst (67) are among five players tied for ninth at minus-8.
