Ochoa leads Wie in season's first major

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Apr 1 (Reuters) Mexico's Lorena Ochoa shot a one-under 71 to retain a four-shot lead over Michelle Wie at the halfway stage of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The 16-year-old Wie also shot a 71 for a two-round seven-under 137 in the women's first major of the year at the Mission Hills course, while former champion Karrie Webb and South Korean rookie Lee Seon-hwa tied for third a stroke further back.

Ochoa, who tore up the course with a stunning 10-under 62 in the first round, said she worked hard to maintain her focus in cool, blustery conditions yesterday.

''I went to bed last night trying not to think about the 10 under score,'' she said.

''I wanted to think of today as a completely new round and I'm very pleased with the way I played. It was very windy and I'm very happy with my position.

''But I still just have to think about taking one round at a time.'' World number one Annika Sorenstam failed to make headway and was disappointed with a second round 72, leaving her 10 shots off the pace in joint 12th.

Wie, playing in her first major as a professional, also stayed focused on the job as she kept up the chase for her breakthrough LPGA victory.

''I didn't look at a leaderboard all day,'' she said. ''I was just trying to do my own thing. I drove the ball well, hit a lot of good irons and my putting was good.'' FORMER GLORY Australian Webb, who has won six majors in her 30 career victories, hasn't won on the LPGA Tour since 2004. Her last win anywhere was in the Australian Ladies' Masters more than a year ago.

But the 2000 champion rekindled memories of her glory days with a round of four birdies and a spectacular eagle at the 387-yard 15th where she holed her second shot from 152-yards with a seven iron.

''It has been frustrating,'' said the player who ruled women's golf before being usurped by Sorenstam. ''But I've worked hard on my game and I know I'm a better player than I was when I was winning a lot.

''It's just that I don't have the same confidence. Before, I don't think I realised just how good I was -- it all seemed so easy.

''But what pleased me most today was that I kept the ball in play and hit a lot of really good iron shots in the swirling winds. I really trusted myself.

''I really do believe that I can get back to where I was, and I'm still out here to win, not to make up the numbers.'' REUTERS PM RK0915