World number one Ochoa grabs Ginn Open lead

World No.1 Lorena Ochoa fired a blistering seven-under 65 here Saturday to seize the third-round lead in the 2.6 million-dollar Ginn Open.

One day after 19-year-old Yani Tseng of Taiwan set a course record with a 64, Ochoa nearly matched it with her latest stellar showing.

"I'm feeling very good and my confidence is high," said the 26-year-old Mexican star.

"I played really well and knew I had to make a lot of birdies. I bogeyed the second but then had eight birdies and now I really like my position going into the final day."

Ochoa is within 18 holes of her fourth straight win and fifth in six events this year.

She won last week's Corona Championship in her homeland by an astonishing 11 strokes.

At 16-under 200, Ochoa was one shot in front of Tseng, who signed for a 69. Taiwan's Teresa Lu was four adrift after a 69.

Tseng, a winner in India and Canada last year, said she is excited about playing in the final group.

"I have dreamt of being world No. 1 since I was about seven or eight, and I am so looking forward to playing with Lorena," she said. "It will be great to get a chance to learn from the world's best player."

Tseng did gain some momentum heading into the final round with birdies at two of her last three holes.

She will have her work cut out against Ochoa a future Hall of Famer who is seeking her 22nd career title.

Also working in Ochoa's favor is that she's won every event this season in which she has held the lead entering the final round. She has not lost a final-round lead since the 2007 Navistar Classic.

"I think it's all about experience," Ochoa said. "But every tournament is different and every round and day is different.

After her only miscue, at the par-three second, Ochoa responded with consecutive birdies. She added two more birdies on the front nine before playing the final nine holes in four-under.

Trying to build on her record round, Tseng started with three straight pars. She was one-under through nine, then added her two late birdies to put her in position for a realistic shot at her first US LPGA title Sunday.