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GUADALAJARA : Michelle Wie, seeking her first LPGA tour title, seized a share of the lead in the 1.1 million-dollar Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday with a two-under par 70.
Wie shared the lead on 10-under 206 with fellow-American Cristie Kerr, who carded a 67.
"I'm really excited for tomorrow," Wie said. "Hopefully, I can go out and win.
"I think I'm just going to play the same way I've always played and go out there and try my hardest and try not to make any expectations of myself," added Wie, who opened her round with back-to-back birdies. "Just go out there like it's another day and try to play as hard as I can and try not to make any bogeys."
Overnight leader Jiyai Shin was a stroke back after a 74. She was joined on 207 by American Paula Creamer, who shot a 71, and first-round leader Song-Hee Kim of South Korea, who posted a 70.
Taiwan's Yani Tseng posted a 69 for 209.
Shin had a tough day, with three bogeys on the back nine at Guadalajara Country Club. She has already secured Rookie of the Year honours and is trying to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to earn both rookie and player of the year honours.
"Every player in four rounds - one will be really hard and today was my bad day," said Shin, who has three victories on tour this year. "Tomorrow I think I should make a comeback."
Shin came into the tournament with a four-point lead over world number one Ochoa in the player of the year race. She could clinch it with a victory, if Ochoa finishes eighth or worse.
Ochoa, who has won Player of the Year for three straight years, carded a 72 on Saturday to lie six adrift.
For Wie, it's the second time this season she has held a share of the lead going into the final round.
She was tied for the lead in February in the SBS Open in Hawaii, but finished three strokes behind winner Angela Stanford.
"I don't want to talk about what happened then," said Wie, 20. "It's unfortunate. All I want to think about is tomorrow and how I'm going to play tomorrow."
Kerr, whose round was highlighted by an eagle on 16, won earlier this season, taking the Michelob Ultra Open.
Kerr saved par at the last two holes to keep her share of the lead.
"I said to my caddie, today is moving day and that's what I did," Kerr said. "I moved into position and I'm excited to be here. This is what Tiger Woods does every week. This is where he wants to be and this is what I want to be." - AFP/ms
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