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OCHOA LETS FIELD GET CLOSER

A potential three-shot lead turns into a one-shot lead with a bogey at No. 18.
 
Published Aug. 4, 2007|Updated Aug. 5, 2007

Lorena Ochoa's missed putt at No. 18 took the fun out of another step toward her first major. Michelle Wie's missed cut showed she's still a long way from her first victory.

Ochoa missed a 4-footer to give her an even 73 Friday and a one-stroke lead at 6-under 140 over Wendy Ward (70) and Catriona Matthew (68) at the Women's British Open.

Up two, Ochoa hit a 25-footer for birdie too hard, curling it 4 feet past the hole. She then missed that for bogey.

"It was a good day," said Ochoa," the world's No. 1-ranked player who also missed an eagle putt at No. 14. "I'm upset about the three-putt on 18, but I'm just glad I still have the lead. ... Hopefully, I can keep doing the same thing for a couple of more days."

Wie, 17, will be at home in a couple of more days. She shot 80 for 7-over 153, two off the cut.

"It's a disappointment because I didn't play as well as I wanted to," said Wie, 17, who has struggled with a left wrist injury.

"I do feel a lot stronger. I'm hitting a lot of shots that I've never really hit before, so that's a positive. I just need to take the positives and go on from there."

Missing the cut added to her poor year at majors.

She missed the Kraft Nabisco because of the injury, finished last at the LPGA Championship and pulled out after nine holes of the second round of the U.S. Open after a first-round 82.

Wie shot even 73 Thursday. But Friday, she already had dropped four shots by the time she took triple-bogey 7 at No. 13. She took five strokes to get the ball within 12 feet, then missed that putt. That was followed by another bogey. Her only birdie came at 18.

"The whole year, I've been struggling with my driver, and I just never got the ball on the fairway," Wie said.

"(Friday), I felt that my driver was really solid. Obviously, my irons weren't good. So I just have to keep it together. It's like a puzzle. I'm just getting one bit at a time."

Ward made five birdies but missed a 4-footer at 18 that would have left her tied with Ochoa.

"I didn't care to finish that way," Ward said. "But I'm still pleased with the day."

Matthew, who has had eight top-10 finishes in majors, is the leading Scot in the field, and her bogey-free 68 caught the attention of the local fans.

"Hopefully, it will inspire me," she said. "Obviously, it's great finishing those last few holes and there's still some big crowds out there cheering me on."

The biggest jump came from Juli Inkster, who has won every major but this. After a first-round 79, she shot 68 to stand seven back of Ochoa. Inkster said she wasn't mad after Thursday.

"Well, what are you going to do?" she said. "I had to turn around and play in 12 hours. I did some putting, had some dinner and got a good night sleep. I got up early and just tried to come out here and make some birdies. I saw Lorena do it (Thursday)."

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 3-over 76-147 to drop seven shots back, tied for 19th.

Fast facts

Second-round leaderboard

Lorena Ochoa 67-73 -6

Wendy Ward 71-70 -5

Catriona Matthew 73-68 -5

Notables

Annika Sorenstam 72-71 -3

Se Ri Pak 73-73 E

Brittany Lincicome 71-76 +1

Cristie Kerr 77-71 +2

Michelle Wie 73-80 +7

Morgan Pressel 80-76 +10

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