World number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico birdied the last three holes to fire a five-under par 67 on Saturday, seizing a two-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Sybase Classic.

Ochoa, whose four-event win streak was snapped last week by Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, stood on nine-under 135 after 36 holes in the $2-million tournament with Sweden's Sophie Gustafson and Taiwan's Teresa Lu next on 137.

"I played really good today," Ochoa said. "It wasn't easy with the wind in all different directions. I'm just glad I'm on top right now."

Ochoa, who has won a total of five events this season, is in search of her third straight victory.

The tournament was shortened to 54 holes on Friday after heavy rain swamped the layout with less than half the field on the course, wiping out what play had been achieved in favor of restarting the second round on Saturday.

South Koreans Hye-Jung Choi and Na Yeon Choi each fired 68s to share fourth on 138, one stroke ahead of American Brittany Lang and two better than American Kristy McPherson, Britain's Catriona Matthew and Sorenstam, who fired a 73.

Second-ranked Sorenstam, who announced on Tuesday she will retire at the end of the 2008 season, shared the lead when the round began but was undone by a double bogey at the 18th hole.

In addition to her double-bogey finish, Sorenstam had a pair of bogeys offsetting her three birdies.

The Swede, who has won her last two starts and three tournaments this season, said she knew Ochoa would be tough to catch.

The Mexican has won 16 of 23 LPGA events when she has the lead entering the final round.

"I don't expect her to come back to the field, we are going to have to catch her," Sorenstam said. "I know how to play this golf course, and I think it would be great if I got off to a good start, climbed up the leaderboard a bit."

Ochoa birdied three of the four par-5 holes to move atop the leaderboard, she birdied the par-3 third and par-5 fifth holes, followed a birdie at the par-5 11th with her only bogey of the day at 12 and birdied 16, 17 and 18 to take command.

"I think the key today was hitting really good tee shots and just giving myself a lot of birdie chances," Ochoa said.

"I'mgoing to get here tomorrow and just do the same. I would love to repeat and get that trophy."

AFP