Thompson leads Ochoa Invitational

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) ― Lexi Thompson moved into position for her second victory in her last four starts, taking the third-round lead Saturday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

The 18-year-old Thompson shot a 5-under 67 in rainy conditions to reach 13-under 203 at Guadalajara Country Club. She had a one-stroke lead over South Korea’s Kim In-kyung.

“The rain definitely affected us somewhat, but I teed off a little bit later with the delay,” Thompson said. “I think just controlling my yardages out here is pretty big and playing consistently. My irons were a lot closer today, and I dropped a few longer putts.”

Thompson won the 2011 LPGA Navistar Classic at 16, and took the LPGA Malaysia last month for her second tour title. She protected third-round leads in both victories.

“It gives me confidence going into tomorrow, but I know there’s a lot of great players right behind me, and I know I have to play well,” Thompson said. “I know I have to shoot another 4 or 5 under tomorrow. I’m just going to go out with the same attitude and just commit to every shot.”

After opening with a 72, she had a 64 ― the best round of the week in the 36-player event- Friday to pull within a stroke of second-round leaders Anna Nordqvist, Ryu So-yeon and Pornanong Phatlum.

Kim birdied the final two holes for a 67. She won the 2010 tournament.

“Winning is amazing, but just being able to play golf and just have fun, that’s the first thing,” Kim said. “If I can win twice, I mean, why not, I think it would be really great.”

She had only 22 putts in the round.

“At the start of the day it was pouring down, so we didn’t expect the rain, but everybody was in the rain,” Kim said. I had a good start, I made birdie on 1 and 2, and I think that kind of helped going forward. Basically, I really like this golf course. I have a good feeling for the course, and I’ve been practicing. It’s just nice to see the result.“

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis was third at 11 under after a 67.

OHL Classic PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) ― Harris English and Robert Karlsson shared the lead Saturday in the rain-delayed OHL Classic when third-round play was suspended because of darkness.

English and Karlsson were 15 under overall with 11 holes left in the round.

English matched the lowest round of his PGA Tour career in the morning with a 9-under 62 on Mayakoba Resort’s El Camaleon course. The 24-year-old former Georgia star won the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June for his first PGA Tour title.

“The last three weeks, last two tournaments, my ball-striking has been unbelievable,” Harris said after the second round. “Finally, this tournament, my putting has come around. I changed putters and went back to my old Ping putter that I played with in college. Just brought back some good memories.”

Karlsson played 36 holes Friday, shooting 63-67. He birdied Nos. 3-5 in the third round.

“It was nice to knock in a few birdies,” Karlsson said.

The 44-year-old Swede, an 11-time winner on the European Tour, tied for 10th last weekend in the McGladrey Classic ― playing on a sponsor exemption ― to earn a spot in the field this week.

World Tour Championship DUBAI (AP) ― Henrik Stenson closed in on the European Tour money title Saturday, birdieing four of his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and one-shot lead after three rounds of the season-ending World Tour Championship. The Swede was at 17-under 199 and is trying to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and European title in the same year.

Victor Dubuisson of France, coming off a victory in Turkey for his first European Tour win, was in second place after a 64. England’s Ian Poulter (66) and Spain’s Alejandro Canizares (70) shared third place, another three shots back.

Stinson came into the tournament leading the Race of Dubai, although Poulter and Justin Rose are among the players who can still overtake him. Rose was six shots back after a 68.

“There’s no point in getting ahead of myself as there’s still one more day to go and I have to give it my best,” Stenson said. “Victor is playing incredible golf at the moment. I heard the expression that I was the hottest golfer in the world, but he’s just jumped up and grabbed that title these last two weeks. So I’m just going to go out there and try to play another solid round.”