Ochoa leads by six at St. Andrews

Golf Betting Lines

08/04/2007 - St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lorena Ochoa kept her foot on the pedal and her game in drive while a field of challengers threw theirs into reverse.

The Mexican star took a big step towards winning her first major championship on Saturday by shooting an even-par 73 in the third round of the Women's British Open, a good enough score to increase her lead from one shot to six.

Looking for that last bit of validation for her No. 1 ranking -- a first major championship -- Ochoa was at six-under 213.

Her toughest challengers took a step back: Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Paula Creamer, Karrie Webb and a host of other stars all shot over-par in the third round.

Behind Ochoa, unheralded Swede Linda Wessberg was the only other survivor to par after 54 holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews, which is hosting a professional women's tournament for the first time.

Wessberg had a one-under 72 and was at even-par 219.

Looking for a jolt to her middling play and her first win of the season, Sorenstam fell seven shots behind with a 77 to share third place with Maria Hjorth, Jee Young Lee and Karine Icher at one-over 220.

Though Ochoa hasn't won a major, she has been in this position before.

She lost a seven-shot lead on Sunday and was beaten by Karrie Webb in a playoff at last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship, a record-tying meltdown at the modern women's majors.

Webb produced an all-time highlight with her hole-out eagle from the fairway at the 72nd hole. Lost in the mix was Ochoa's eagle moments later at Mission Hills' 18th.

It was the only other time Ochoa held a 54-hole lead at a major. She is 6-6 in her career with the third-round lead, including 2-3 this season alone, and has won nine times in the last 16 months to supplant Sorenstam as the world's top- ranked woman.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

Broadcsat Golf Betting News

<< Yankees activate Hughes
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have activated rookie pitcher Phil Hughes from the 60-day disabled list Saturday. Hughes, who has been out since straining his left hamstring on May 1, will start Saturday's game a

<< Mitre, Marlins take on Jennings, Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Sergio Mitre goes for a second straight win and fourth in five decisions tonight when the Florida Marlins host the Houston Astros in the second test of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium. Mitre, 26, al

<< Streaking Nationals resume series with Cards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals shoot for a season-high five wins in a row when they resume a three-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals this evening at RFK Stadium. Washington posted a 3-2 win in Friday's series ope

<< Rockies attempt to stay on track in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies aim for their third straight win tonight, when they continue a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Rockies recorded a 9-2 victory over the Braves in Friday's serie

<< Hamels tries to pitch Philly past Milwaukee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers will try to stay atop the division standings when they resume a three-game series tonight versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park. Milwaukee is just one game ahead

Radwanska, Dushevina advance at busy Nordic Light Open >>
Stockholm, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and eighth-seeded Russian Vera Dushevina each advanced to the final at the Nordic Light Open. Radwanska needed to win a pair of matches after rain halted

A-Rod youngest to 500 home runs >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach the 500-home run plateau, belting a three- run home run in the first inning of Saturday's game against Kansas City. Rodriguez,

Canadian Carpentier wins Busch pole in Montreal >>
Montreal, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Local hero Patrick Carpentier captured the pole for Saturday afternoon's NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. The No.22 Armando Fitz Dodge circled the 2.710-m

Colts drop Simon >>
Terre Haute, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts ended their first week of training camp by cutting veteran defensive tackle Corey Simon on Saturday. Simon, the No. 6 overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Philade

Johansson leads in Russia, nearing first win in 10 years >>
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Per-Ulrik Johansson shot a five-under 67 Saturday and will carry a four-shot lead into the final round at the Russian Open Golf Championship, looking for his first win in 10 years. Johansson was at 1

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.