Ochoa grabs lead at Canadian Open

Lorena Ochoa produced a superb seven-under-par 64 to go four strokes clear going into the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open.

After firing a six-under 65 on Friday, Ochoa outdid herself during a rainy day at the Royal Mayfair Country Club, sinking five birdies on the front nine and two more after the turn to sign for a 199 after 54 holes.

Her strong effort matched the course mark set a day earlier by Karrie Webb.

“I had a really good day,” Ochoa said. “Tough to play in the rain, but I actually love the rain. It’s been good to me.

“For some reason, I just feel very comfortable. I started with a birdie on my second hole and gathered momentum from there. So here I am, in good position for tomorrow, and that’s all that matters.”

Ochoa, from Mexico, who entered the day one shot behind Juli Inkster and Shi Hyun Ahn, is fresh off winning her first major title – the British Open on August 5.

She is looking to add to her tour-leading four wins and 14 top-10 finishes in 17 events this year.

Inkster shot a two-over 73 to fall into a tie for fifth at 207, while Ahn also struggled, finishing the day at three over for a 208.

Paula Creamer and Laura Diaz are within reach of Ochoa at 10-under 203. Both also signed for bogey-free rounds, with Creamer shooting a 66 and Diaz carding a 68.

“I missed a couple of short putts on the front, but on the back, I really didn’t give myself too many great opportunities to make birdie,” Diaz said. “I played well.”

Creamer continued her hot play after birdying her final four holes on Friday.

In her third year on the LPGA Tour, she birdied numbers four and six before the turn and added three more on the back nine – including two on par-three holes - to make her the only player in the field to finish each round in the 60s.

“I played good,” Creamer said. “I think I missed two greens. Other than that, I played pretty solid. I made a lot of good putts. I missed a ton of opportunities out there, but considering the conditions, I’ll take five under.”

Ya-Ni Tseng is six shots off the pace after signing for a 67 on Saturday. The native of Chinese Taipei sank three of her five birdies on the back nine after recording her lone bogey of the day at number nine.

Kimberly Hall is tied with Inkster after bogeying her final two holes. The Texan, who had five bogeys overall, birdied numbers 17 and 18 on Friday.

Cristie Kerr, who won this event in astounding fashion last year when she overcame an eight-shot, final-round deficit to beat Angela Stanford by one stroke, shot an even-par 71 to finish the day in a nine-way tie for 19th place.