Ochoa takes lead, Thompson drops back
Updated: October 03, 2009, 18:46
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic, leaving 14-year-old Alexis Thompson eight strokes behind.
Ochoa, second last week behind Sophie Gustafson in California, had a 16-under 200 total on The Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex. She birdied six of her final 12 holes in the bogey-free round.
The top-ranked Mexican star is winless in her last 11 starts. She has two victories in 17 events this season after winning 21 times the previous three years.
Thompson, the Florida ninth-grader who was part of a five-way tie for the second-round lead, had a 74 to drop into a tie for 13th at 8 under.
Sandra Gal (66) was second at 13 under, and Janice Moodie (68) and Brittany Lang (68) were 12 under. Michelle Wie (72) matched Thompson at 8 under.
