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NEWS

Sunday October 15 2006 14:10

ANNIKA IN COMMAND AT BIG HORN

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Defending champion Annika Sorenstam fired seven birdies and mixed in just one bogey at California's Big Horn GC on Saturday to put herself in a commanding position to retain her Samsung World Championship title.

Her six-under-par 66 in Saturday's third round took her to a 12-under 204 and put her three shots clear of World No 2 and biggest threat Lorena Ochoa in an event in which the World No 1 is seeeking a record 6th victory.

"I'm very happy with my round. I thought I played very solid," a beaming Sorenstam said afterweards.

"I missed only one fairway and zero greens. I will take that on any Saturday, thank you"

Sorenstam won here in 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004 aand 2005 and shares with Hall of Famer Mickey Wright the record for being the LPGA Tour's only five-time winners of the same tournament.

Victory on Sunday would give her No six - and yet another LPGA record.

A third successive win her would also give her a 70th tour victory.

Only Wright (82) and Kathy Whitworth (88) have more.

Lorena Ochoa carded a five-under 67 and is in second at nine-under 207.

A co-leader after the first round, Ochoa fired a bogey-free round with five birdies.

"I had a good day and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities," Ochoa said.

"I know it's going to be tough. I'm ready to go and excited to be playing in the last group."

Sorenstam shared the lead with fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson and American Paula Creamer entering Saturday, but both her adversaries fell back..

Gustafson is at 8-under after a round of 70 while Creamer slipped back in to a tie for 5fth at 6-under with a 72.

Sorenstam birdied four of her first seven holes before again running into trouble at the par-four ninth.

The Swedish superstar carded a double-bogey on number nine on Friday and dropped another shot there in the third round.

She rebounded with a birdie at number 10 and added two more coming in to extend her lead.

"I'm going to need everything I have," Sorenstam said.

"Lorena is having a fantastic year and has a lot of momentum on her side.

I know I will really have to go out and earn it. I have to post a low score."

While Sorenstam is looking for a historic win, Michelle Wie came back to the site of her professional debut looking for her first win, but is we`ll out of the running.

Wie, who turned 17 on Wednesday, carded her second consecutive even-par 72 and is tied for 13th, 14 shots off the pace.

"I was hitting the ball a lot more solid, a lot more consistent," Wie said. "I feel better and better, I just have to get some more birdies."

Last year, Wie finished fourth but was disqualified after the tournament ended for an improper drop made in the third round.

ALL THE THIRD ROUND SCORES

(USA unless stated, par 72):

204 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 67 71 66

207 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 67 73 67

208 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 70 70

209 Stacy Prammanasudh 70 72 67

210 Paula Creamer 70 68 72, Cristie Kerr 71 71 68, Sherri Steinhauer 72 67 71

213 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 68 74 71, Pat Hurst 72 70 71

215 Karrie Webb (Aus) 71 69 75