"But it didn't happen. We couldn't do it," Ochoa said. "Just the last few holes are really tough."
Ochoa made them tougher by hitting an 8-iron into a tree and across the fairway at No. 12 for a bogey, and leaning too far into a 7-iron on the 15th, causing it to fade badly to the right and into a bunker, leading to another bogey.
Hee-Won Han shot a 69 and joined Sorenstam at 3-under 141. The group at 142 included Karen Stupples, who fell from the first-round lead with a 75, and Se Ri Pak (70), inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year and now needing this major to become only the fifth woman to complete the career Grand Slam.
Only 15 players remained under par, and the cut fell at 5-over 149.
Young is looking for her first major, and didn't expect to have a chance this week. She has been in a self-described funk for the last year and showed up in the desert with hardly any expectations. And she certainly had no reason to believe she would be tied for the lead after a three-putt bogey on No. 11, followed by a double bogey from the rough and sand on No. 12.
"I got off to a rough start today, and I just tried to keep my mood up," she said. "And it served me well."
She birdied three of four holes around the turn, and made her fifth and final birdie with a 25-foot putt on No. 7. She didn't realize she was tied for the lead until walking off the ninth green and signing for a 70, and the only expectations she has are of Ochoa, whom she will play with in the final group.
"Loud. I expect it to be loud," Young said. "She's playing great. She's playing phenomenal golf. So I expect her to have a lot of fans. I expect her to play well. And I expect her to out-drive me on every hole."
Ochoa has far different expectations - make more putts.
"Overall, it was a great round," she said. "I probably missed a lot of putts that I should have made, but I think I prefer making those on the weekend than today. And I'm feeling good. The important thing is that I feel strong and really confident with my game."
