Ochoa clinging to lead at St. Andrews

St. Andrews, Scotland (Sports Network) - Lorena Ochoa will carry a lead into the weekend of a major championship for the second time this season, still looking for that last bit of validation for her No. 1 world ranking.
The Mexican star managed just an even-par 73 in the second round of the Women's British Open on Friday, but it was good enough to keep her head above a pool of challengers that included Annika Sorenstam, who has was three shots back at St. Andrews using a yardage book given to her by Tiger Woods.
Relying solely on her own measurements, Ochoa was at six-under 140 following a steady, if not unremarkable, round that included two birdies and two bogeys.
Her last bogey came at the par-four 18th, narrowing her lead over Wendy Ward and Catriona Matthew to just a shot.
"I think we are in good shape and I think we understand the golf course pretty good," said Ochoa.
Matthew fired a five-under 68 on Friday, equaling the round of the day. She birdied the 17th -- the famous "Road Hole" -- which has been converted to a par five for the women's first event at the Old Course.
"I'm delighted the wind didn't pick up as much as I thought it would and happy with my round," Matthew said.
Ward had a 70 to join Matthew in second place at five-under 141.
Sorenstam led a group of five players who were two shots further back at three-under 143.
Seeking her first win of the season, her first major since last year's U.S. Women's Open and a jolt to her middling play, Sorenstam shot a 71 on Friday to post her lowest 36-hole British Open score in relation to par since 2004.
Sorenstam has just one British Open crown among her 10 major championships, winning at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2003.
She woke up at 4 a.m. local time Friday for her 6:52 tee time, having relaxed little after shooting a 72 in the first round.
"It's tough to go to bed so early knowing I have to get up because I was so wound up after the first round and was thinking about all of the different shots," said Sorenstam. "I tried to tell myself, 'You've got to sleep, you've got to get up in about six hours.'"
Three players will be on the course at 6 a.m. local time Saturday morning to finish their second rounds after play was suspended for the second day in a row due to darkness.The third round is scheduled to begin an hour later.
Ochoa didn't tee off until noonish on Friday. Her round got started on a good note with a seven-iron to six feet to set up birdie at No. 1, but it would be her only birdie in the first 13 holes.
In between, she made bogey at the 11th, trimming her lead to one shot over Ward. Ochoa reached the green in two at the par-five 14th, then two-putted from 15 feet for a birdie.
She three-putted for her closing bogey at the 18th.
"I'm upset about that three-putt on 18, but I didn't leave myself in a good position for my second shot," said Ochoa. "Nothing I can do now. I'm just glad I still have the lead."
Although Ochoa has won nine times in the last 16 months to supplant Sorenstam as the top-ranked women's player in the world, a major championship has eluded her.
Could her first time come in the first professional women's tournament ever held on the Old Course?
"Hopefully we can keep doing the same thing for a couple more days," was all she offered.
Ochoa also led after the second round of this year's Kraft Nabisco, but she finished in a tie for 10th place after shooting rounds of 77 and 72 on the weekend. She is 6-8 in her career with the 36-hole lead, and would like nothing better than to prove she can hold on to win a major.
"I can't wait to be here tomorrow," she said.
After shooting par on Thursday, Michelle Wie stumbled to a seven-over 80 and will miss the cut. Her round included a triple-bogey at the par-four 13th.
"It's like a puzzle," the 17-year-old Hawaiian said of piecing her game together. "I'm just getting one bit at a time ... But just playing two rounds here is an amazing feat because it's two more than I've ever played here."
Defending champion Sherri Steinhauer was one of four players who joined Sorenstam in a tie for fourth place at three-under par. Yuri Fudoh, Rebecca Hudson and Karine Icher were also there.
Kraft Nabisco champion Morgan Pressel and 2005 Women's British Open winner Jeong Jang will join Wie in missing the cut.