Ochoa moves one stroke clear at World Championship

PALM DESERT, California, Oct 13 (Reuters) Defending champion Lorena Ochoa put herself in position to win her seventh LPGA title of the year by taking a one-shot lead in the World Championship second round.

The Mexican world number one, a stroke off the pace overnight, fired a flawless, five-under-par 67 for a nine-under total of 135 at Bighorn Golf Club yesterday.

Angela Stanford birdied the last for a 66 to share second place with fellow American Paula Creamer (69) and LPGA rookie of the year Angela Park of South Korea (69).

It was another day to forget, though, for American teenager Michelle Wie who propped up the leaderboard in the elite field of 20 after battling to a second successive 79.

Playing on a sponsor's invite after a dismal 2007 campaign hampered by a wrist injury and highlighted by just two LPGA cuts in seven starts, Wie piled up three double-bogeys, four bogeys and three birdies.

Reuters DKS VP0635