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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:22 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2008

Golf: Ochoa's second 66 tops Corona Championship

By TRACI CARL
Associated Press Writer

MORELIA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight 7-under 66 today to take a one-stroke lead in the Corona Championship and move a step closer to becoming the youngest player to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.

"It was a great day," Ochoa said. "No bogeys. I enjoyed that very much."

South Korea's Inbee Park was second after a 9-under 64 that tied the course record set by Ochoa in 2006 and 2007.

Park was excited about playing alongside the top-ranked Mexican star on Saturday.

"I've always wanted to, but never got a chance to because she always plays in the last group and I never do," said Park, who had 10 birdies Friday,

Ochoa, the Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Sunday for her second straight major victory and third win in three starts this year, said she liked the close competition because it pushed her to focus.

"It makes me more aggressive and try to catch up, but either way, tomorrow I'm going to play like I'm three or four shots behind and try to win the tournament," the 20-time LPGA Tour winner said.

If Ochoa wins Sunday, she will earn the last of the 27 points needed to qualify for the Hall of Fame. The youngest to qualify previously was Se Ri Pak, who was 26 years when she won the Michelob Ultra Open in 2004.

The LPGA Tour awards one point for every victory and major award and two points for a major victory. Ochoa still must play 10 years on the LPGA Tour before she becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame, a goal she would reach in the 2012 season.

A victory Sunday also would also be her second at the rugged Tres Marias, a steep and often rocky course carved into a mountain valley in western Mexico. She was the Corona champion in 2006, her only tournament win on Mexican soil.

Yesterday, Ochoa eagled two par 5s in a 66 to tie for the lead with South Korea's Song-Hee Kim. Today, Ochoa eagled the par-5 10th.

Kim was three strokes back after a 69.

"It was tougher than yesterday," she said. "I had some tough shots. Did you see me (on) 18? It was terrible."

Ochoa has been trailed by a growing crowd of Mexican fans, many young, budding golfers who hope to follow in her footsteps. As she shuttled between media interviews Friday on a terrace overlooking the club's pool, several kids stood up in a hot tub, waving and shouting in unison: "Lorena! Congratulations!"

She paused, looked up, and waved back: "Gracias!"

Ochoa said she was enjoying the attention.

"We had great galleries and a lot of people who came to watch us play, which is very good," she said. "I just really enjoyed the day. Hopefully we have a couple more of those and take a run at the title on Sunday."