Ochoa takes over lead in Canadian tournament

The top-ranked Mexican star holds a four-shot lead going to the final round.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Lorena Ochoa moved into position for her second straight victory and fifth of the season, shooting a 7-under 64 in rainy conditions Saturday to take a four-stroke lead in the Canadian Women’s Open.

The top-ranked Mexican star, coming off her first major victory two weeks ago in the Women’s British Open, had a 14-under 199 total on the Royal Mayfair course.

She opened with rounds of 70 and 65 and hasn’t made a bogey in 40 holes.

Still in the hunt

Paula Creamer (66) and Laura Diaz (68) were 10 under, Ya-Ni Tseng (67) followed at 8 under, and Juli Inkster (73) and Kimberly Hall (72) were 6 under.

Shi Hyun Ahn, tied for the lead with Inkster after the second round, had a 74 to drop to 5 under.

Ochoa, a stroke behind Inkster and Ahn at the start of play Saturday, had five birdies in a front-nine 30 and added two more birdies on the back nine to match the course record set by Karrie Webb on Friday.

Ochoa had a chance to break the record, but her 15-foot putt from the fringe on 18 stopped inches from the hole.

Alena Sharp topped the three Canadians left in the field, shooting a 67 for a 4-under 209 total. The Hamilton, Ontario, player had three birdies on the back nine.

“I’m full of adrenaline right now, playing the back nine and shooting 3 under. I need to make sure I get rest and I stop thinking about golf,” Sharp said. “I felt like I didn’t have a lot of pressure going into today because I was eight shots back, but shooting a good round today, maybe there’s a little pressure for tomorrow.”

Nancy Harvey of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was 2 over after a 70, and A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, British Columbia, was 4 over after a 72.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr, the winner last at London Hunt in Ontario, was 11 strokes back at 3 under after a 71.