MORELIA, Mexico — Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 4-under-par 69 in windy conditions yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over Norway's Suzann Pettersen into the final round of the LPGA Tour's Corona Championship.

Ochoa, the top-ranked Mexican star who also won the 2006 tournament at Tres Marias, had a 20-under 199 total. After opening with consecutive bogey-free 65s, she had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey yesterday.

"I was aggressive, but I can't be perfect every day," Ochoa said. "I missed a couple of shots, and that's just the way golf is. I'm still happy because I'm still on the lead and the goal is to remain there. Sunday will be complicated. Nothing is going to be easy. Suzann has the desire. So do I. I have to respect her."

The fifth-ranked Pettersen followed her second-round 64 with a 67. She eagled the par-5 eighth and had four birdies, but failed to convert a short birdie chance on 18.

"Whatever happened, happened, there's nothing you can do about it. I'm happy because there are still 18 holes to play," Pettersen said. "It was a good round, not perfect. I managed to gain ground on Lorena, which was one of my goals. ... Hopefully tomorrow, I can go out and shoot as low as I can."

Na Yeon Choi (69) was third at 15 under, Wendy Ward (66), Morgan Pressel (67) and Irene Cho (68) were 14 under, and Cristie Kerr (66) and second-ranked Yani Tseng (66) were another stroke back.

Hawai'i's Michelle Wie was tied for 13th at 10-under 209. She shot a 72 after opening with rounds of 66 and 71.

ZURICH CLASSIC

KELLY LEADS BY THREE; MCLACHLIN FALLS 11 BACK

NEW ORLEANS — Jerry Kelly shot a bogey-free 3-under 69 yesterday to increase his lead to three strokes in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Kelly, the 42-year-old Wisconsin player who won his two PGA Tour titles in 2002, made two birdies on the front nine, one on the back, a steady round that kept him ahead of the surging, then slipping players chasing him

"My goal was to be comfortable," said Kelly, who withdrew from the Verizon Heritage last week because of the flu and a dislocated rib that caused severe back pain. "I'm not going to force shots."

Kelly had a 13-under 203 total at TPC Louisiana. He opened with rounds of 68 and 68.

Steve Marino made the strongest move of the day, using eight birdies to offset two bogeys and a double bogey. Marino moved to 11 under before a bogey on the par-5 18th dropped him to 10 under, still good enough to give him sole possession of second place.

"It came out real hot and went over the green," said Marino, who finished with a 68. "That's the last place you want to be. I ended up making six. But I played well all day, and I look forward to more."

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin, who started the day tied for fourth, two shots off the pace, struggled to a 78 and was tied for 49th place at 214.

LEGENDS OF GOLF

ROBERTS, WIEBE LEAD TEAM EVENT BY ONE

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Loren Roberts and Mark Wiebe reeled off five birdies and an eagle over the final nine holes for a better-ball 61 and 125 total, a stroke ahead of John Cook and Joey Sindelar (63) at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf at The Club at Savannah Harbor.

First-round co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman (66) were tied for third with Mark O'Meara and Nick Price (64) at 127 on the island course in the middle of the Savannah River.

ELSEWHERE

Ballantine's Championship: Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands struggled to a 3-over 75, but still held a two-stroke lead with a 6-under 210 total after three rounds of the Ballantine's Championship at Jeju Island, South Korea.

South Georgia Classic: Garth Mulroy fired a 4-under 68 to tie Chris Tidland (71) at 10-under 261 for a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic at Valdosta, Ga.