RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Nothing ever comes easily for Lorena Ochoa at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
She has been jilted the past two years at Mission Hills, the major that makes her feel at home with so many Mexican flags waving in the gallery and shouts of “Pajarito” — birdie — to carry her along.
But as she stood on the 18th green late Saturday afternoon, Ochoa pursed her lips and looked up at the blazing blue sky in disgust. She finished with three-putt bogeys on two of the last four holes, dropping her lead to a single shot over Hee-Won Han.
“I’m OK,” Ochoa said after a 1-under 71, leaving her as the only player to have broken par all three days. “I am not one to be upset. I am really positive. I’m really happy that I’m going to play tomorrow in the last group, that I have a chance to win a major, and that’s what I am going to do.”
So many others suddenly felt the same way.
Fourteen players were separated by five shots going into the final round, seven of them major champions.
U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr picked the right fortune cookie at dinner Friday night — “A great day ahead,” it said — and fired a 66 that brought her within two shots of the lead. LPGA champion Suzann Pettersen holed out from the fairway on her way to a tournament-best 65, leaving her in range just four shots behind.
Ochoa, at 6-under 210, had a one-shot lead over Han, who shot 70 and will be playing in the final group at a major for the first time. Joining them will be Kerr, who held off Ochoa to win the Women’s Open last summer at Pine Needles.
Other tournaments
Houston Open: At Humble, Texas, Johnson Wagner shot a 3-under 69 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead over Chad Campbell after the third round. The 28-year-old Wagner, winless in 43 career starts, had a 15-under 201 total. Campbell, playing one group ahead of Wagner, birdied five of his first nine holes for a 65. Charley Hoffman and Bob Estes were three behind at 12 under. Estes shot a 64, the best round of the day. Hoffman had a 69. Geoff Ogilvy shot a 66 to reach 10 under, and Mathew Goggin was another shot back after a 72.
Cap Cana Championship: At Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Mark Wiebe shot a 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead over Scott Hoch in the Champions Tour event. Wiebe’s bogey-free round, highlighted by an eagle-birdie run, pushed him to 9-under 135.
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