Ochoa on course for big bonus

Lorena Ochoa, the top player on the LPGA Tour this year, stayed on course to end a great season with a record $1m first prize when she shot an impressive third-round 67 at today’s ADT Championship at Trump International in West Palm Beach in Florida.

The 25-year-old Mexican only survived the halfway cut thanks to a birdie in a play-off – but the five-under-par round secured a place in the top eight that will face an 18-hole shoot-out tomorrow for the biggest prize in women’s golf.

Ochoa qualified on the final mark of four under par on a day when Il Mi Chung (65) finished as the leading qualifier on a nine under par 207, one ahead of fellow South Korean Mi Hyun Kim, who also shot 65, and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada, who had a 69.

The other four qualifiers are Ai Miyazato (Japan), Karrie Webb (Australia) and Americans Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer.

But all eight players will start even tomorrow with the huge first prize going to the winner and a huge drop to £52,700 for second place.

“I knew I had to go low today,” said Ochoa, who has already won six times this season to clinch the LPGA Player of the Year award.

“I didn’t make one bogey today and now I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.

“I think the new format has certainly attracted a lot of interest and it should be exciting to have eight players going after a 1million dollar prize.

“It’s going to be fun and I’m just pleased that I am involved.”

Ochoa currently heads the money list with £1.3million, £223,000 ahead of Webb.