Ochoa leads by 3 at halfway point of Michelob Ultra Open

WILLIAMSBURG -- An uncharacteristic stumble at the finish line didn't prevent Lorena Ochoa from pulling away from her pursuers at the Michelob Ultra Open.

Ochoa, the world's No.1-ranked female golfer, delivered a 6-under-par 65 yesterday and will carry a three-shot cushion into today's third round on the Kingsmill Resort's 6,315-yard River Course. Ochoa reached 14 under with a birdie on her 17th hole but returned that stroke by bogeying 18 (the par-4 ninth) from the bunker that guards the right side of the green.

"I'm a little disappointed with the finish, but I see a lot of good things, a lot of birdies and a lot of good putts," when assessing her day's work, Ochoa said.

Ochoa made eight birdies, including three in a row and four in a span of six holes, to put distance between herself and her closest pursuers: Cristie Kerr, In-Kyung Kim and Song-Hee Kim, all of whom are perched at 10 under. She said she in no way feels comfortable heading into today's third round. Nor does she want to.

"You always need to be ready and you always need to be humble," said Ochoa, who is stalking the 27th victory of her career but her first at Kingsmill. "I'll play like I'm behind by two, three shots. I never like to think I'm winning."

Each of the top 13 players on the leader board scored in the 60s on a bright, balmy, make-it-look-easy day at Kingsmill. Two, Kerr and Song-Hee Kim, matched the tournament's 18-hole scor-