Golf: McPherson leads as Shin, Ochoa duel goes to LPGA wire
Posted: 24 November 2009 0620 hrs

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HOUSTON, Texas: Jiyai Shin and Lorena Ochoa took their battle for LPGA Player of the Year honours down to the wire on Monday in the rain-disrupted LPGA Championship.

It was American Kristy McPherson atop the leaderboard on eight-under 136 when the second round concluded on Monday morning, one stroke in front of South Korea's Shin and two ahead of world number one Ochoa of Mexico.

McPherson had wrapped up her second round 67 on Sunday, when play resumed in the rain-hit event after a washout on Saturday.

Shin returned to the course at daybreak and parred two holes to complete a 67 for 137.

Ochoa played her finishing hole to complete a second-round 72. She was joined on 138 by Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (68) and American Heather Young (69).

The cut was made at three-over, and the third round got underway.

Shin is trying to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to sweep the money title, rookie and player of the year, and the Vare Trophy.

She led Ochoa by eight points for player of the year entering the tournament.

"I have a good shot at it," said Shin, winner of three titles this year.

"It's going to be very close. It will be the most important day of my life."

Ochoa is seeking a fourth straight Player of the Year award. She needs to finish third or better, and hope Shin is out of the top 10. The two are also neck and neck for the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average.

McPherson, meanwhile, is just looking for her first LPGA Tour victory.

She nabbed five birdies with no bogeys in her second round. McPherson is one of the few players who got through two rounds without any interruptions.

"Our goal was to get in before the sun went down, so we were happy to do that," she said. "We were fortunate to get through."

Rain on Friday and Saturday has wreaked havoc on the Houstonian Country Club course, forcing officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.

Ochoa topped the leaderboard after Thursday's first round, with Shin four shots back. But the South Korean picked up four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on Sunday to pull level, then closed her day with a birdie putt at the par-five 16th for a lead she was able to maintain on Monday morning.

"The course conditions were really wet, the greens were really soft," Shin said. "That was a big help to us. We could be more aggressive. There was no wind - the conditions were perfect."

Ochoa's Sunday ended on a low note at the 17th. She had just hit her tee shot into a greenside bunker at the par-three when the horn sounded to halt play.

She elected to finish the hole, took a bogey and headed to the practice green. She returned early Monday to par 18.

Cristie Kerr, the other player with a slim mathematical chance of stealing Player of the Year honours, fired a second-round 69 for 141. - AFP/de