Sorenstam and Ochoa lead Scandinavian TPC

Annika Sorenstam, the home club member at Bro-Balsta, Sweden, and Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa both shot 69 to remain tied at the top on 13-under-par 206 in the Scandinavian TPC today.

They were paired together and led by two shots from Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, who had a 68, and by three from the leading player on the Ladies’ European Tour this season, France’s Gwladys Nocera, who had a 71.

Britain’s Laura Davies and Catriona Matthew produced two of the day’s best scores but could not climb to the top of the leaderboard. Davies had an extraordinary seven-under 66 – eight birdies, an eagle and a triple-bogey – while five-months-pregnant Matthew had a flawless six-birdie 67.

Davies’ disaster came at the short par-four fifth where she tried to drive the green but hit her tee shot into the pine trees and had a penalty drop and a duff chip on her way to a seven.

But the rest of a round, that started with an eagle from 12 feet, was terrific.

“Seven under with a triple-bogey is more than anyone can hope for,” she admitted. “It was just a pity they found my first tee shot at the fifth because the provisional was on the edge of the green, so I might have made five – or six at the worst – with the second ball.

“But I can’t really complain. I didn’t go to the range this morning because I was hitting it so well and spent 45 minutes on the putting green instead.

“It was a good move because I putted great and I’ll do the same tomorrow.”

Sorenstam was another to eagle the first hole. She also had five birdies and three bogeys in a rollercoaster round.

Ochoa was much steadier with a faultless round that included two birdies in each half.

“That’s the way my season’s been,” said Sorenstam, who has won twice, including the US Women’s Open.

“It’s been a little up and down. I have a lot of good holes and the key tomorrow is to eliminate the mistakes.”