Ochoa opens with 73 in her own event, while Sorenstam roars to lead

11/14/2008

Lorena Ochoa struggled Thursday in the first round in her own Lorena Ochoa Invitational, shooting a 1-over 73 on her home course to drop five strokes behind Annika Sorenstam and the other leaders.

Championship winner Yani Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa and ahead of Sorenstam, topped the leaderboard at 68 along with Sorenstam, Angela Stanford, Karen Stupples, Seon Hwa Lee, Nicole Castrale, Hee-Won Han and Brittany Lang.

Ochoa has two victories -- the 2006 and 2008 Corona Championship -- in nine LPGA Tour starts in Mexico. She has seven victories in 20 Tour starts this year and leads the money list with $2,738,888.

Sorenstam, leaving the LPGA Tour at the end of the season, birdied five of the first 13 holes to take the lead at 5 under, but missed shot par putts on 14 and 16 before rallying with a birdie on 18.

The Swedish star is coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago in a Ladies European Tour event in China. She has three LPGA Tour victories this season.

Stupples, the 35-year-old English player looking for her first victory the 2004 Women's British Open, birdied the first three holes and holed a 60-degree wedge from 70 yards for eagle on the 364-yard 14th.

She played with a broken middle toe on her right foot.

The 23-year-old Lang birdied four of her last five holes.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1. Karen Stupples                     68 - 4
    Nicole Castrale                     68 - 4
    Hee-Won Han                      68 - 4
    Brittany Lang                       68 - 4
    Seon Hwa Lee                      68 - 4
    Yani Tseng                          68 - 4
    Angela Stanford                   68 - 4
    Annika Sorenstam                68 - 4
9. Sophie Gustafson                 69 - 3
    Jee Young Lee                     69 - 3
    Meena Lee                          69 - 3
    Na Yeon Choi                       69 - 3

Source: AP, LPGA