Lorena Ochoa held up her end of the bargain, moving on moving day from T4 to 1st place via a 5-under 67. Counting 6 birdies against 1 bogey on the sabbath, to accompany 5 birdies and a bogey on Friday, the Guadalajaran zipped two shots ahead of Teresa Lu and Sophie Gustafson.

Her fellow headliner, Miss Annika, did not fare so well. She came into the 18th at -1 for the day, -6 for the event. Birdie on the five par would have brought her within 2 of Ochoa, along perhaps with a coveted spot in the final threesome. I know that the first ones in normally get the spots first, but do you think Commissioner “newly extended contract” Bivens would have passed up a mano a mano, Ochoa-Sorenstam battle? I think not. 7 blows later, she was 5 back of Lorena and fairly out of the event.

What we know about Lorena are these two points: she owns holes 5, 11 and 17 (birdies both days) and can only trip up at #12 (bogey on successive diurns.) She seems intent on putting to rest any premature rumors of her regression to gagging-under-pressure form. Tomorrow will not confirm what we need, though. Holding on against Lu and Gu should pose no problems for Ochoa. The true test will be a final-threesome or final-twosome duel with the Swede. Much like Greg LeMond dispatched Bernard Hinault to win his first Tour de France, Lorena will need a convincing victory over Annika with both at top form.

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