World number one Lorena Ochoa moved ominously into a tie for the lead in the opening women’s major of the year, firing a one-under-par 71 in the Kraft Nabisco Championship second round.
A stroke off the pace overnight, Ochoa took control at the tournament’s midway point with American Heather Young, who carded a five-birdie 70 at Mission Hills Country Club.
The pair ended a steaming hot day in the California desert at five-under 139, one ahead of Swede Maria Hjorth and South Korea’s Kim Mi-hyun who returned matching 70s.
Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, seeking her 11th grand slam crown, also posted a 70 to lie a further stroke back in a tie for fifth with Korean Han Hee-won (69).
In pursuit of her second major title, and a third LPGA victory of the season in just four starts, Mexican Ochoa shrugged off two late bogeys to take joint charge.
“It was a good day and I can’t complain,” the 26-year-old said. “I did my best and there were a few putts out there that hurt me but that’s the way it is. It’s a major championship.
“It was playing tough today. I kept repeating to myself, just be patient. You’re in position and you have a couple more rounds to go. I’m where I like to be starting the weekend and I’m excited to get here tomorrow to try to have a low round.”
Ochoa, who secured her first major title at last year’s Women’s British Open, birdied the par-five second before reaching the turn in one-under 35, a stroke in front of the chasing pack.
She also birdied the 10th and 11th to forge three ahead before bogeying the par-four 12th after pushing her drive into the right rough and ricocheting off a tree with her second shot.
Although Ochoa also dropped at the 15th, where she ended up in a greenside bunker with her approach, she parred the last three holes to stay at the top of the leaderboard.
“I hit the ball really good and gave myself a lot of birdie chances,” the long-hitting Mexican said. “I made only one bad mistake, on 15, and the rest was really solid golf.”
Young, whose only LPGA victory came at the 2005 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, was delighted to share the lead after holding low expectations at the start of the week.
“It feels good but it’s just halfway over,” the 33-year-old said after rebounding from a par, bogey, double-bogey start. “I don’t have any expectations for the weekend.
“I’m just going to try to keep my head up. I got off to a rough start today and I just tried to keep my mood up. It served me well.”
After sliding back to level par overall, Young birdied the 17th, 18th, second, fourth and seventh to join Ochoa in a tie for the lead.
“Lorena is playing phenomenal golf so I expect her to have a lot of fans tomorrow,” Young said. “I expect it to be loud.
“I also expect her to play well and I expect her to out-drive me on every hole.”
The halfway cut fell at five-over 149 with 71 players qualifying for the last two rounds.
Among those who missed out were 2004 champion Grace Park of South Korea and American Sherri Steinhauer, a winner of two major titles.
