PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Defending champion Lorena Ochoa fired a 6-under 66 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic, leaving 14-year-old Alexis Thompson eight strokes behind.

Ochoa, second last week behind Sophie Gustafson in California, has a 16-under 200 total on The Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex. She birdied six of her final 12 holes in the bogey-free round.

The top-ranked Mexican star is winless in her last 11 starts.

"The last time I won was in April, so it's been a little bit slow," Ochoa said.

She has two victories in 17 events this season after winning 21 times the previous three years.

Sandra Gal (66) was second at 13 under, and Janice Moodie (68) and Brittany Lang (68) were 12 under.

Punahou alum and Stanford student Michelle Wie from Hawai'i could only manage a 72 and is tied with Thompson (74) at 208.

ELSEWHERE

Senior Players Championship: Tom Watson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on the one-year anniversary of his left hip surgery to take a four-stroke lead in the Senior Players Championship at Timonium, Md., the final Champions Tour's major of the year.

The 60-year-old Watson, trying to become the oldest senior major winner, had a 12-under 198 total on Baltimore Country Club/Five Farms' East Course. Loren Roberts (65), John Cook (65) and Mark Wiebe (66) were at 202.

Turning Stone Resort Championship: Scott Piercy shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Matt Kuchar after three rounds of the Turning Stone Resort Championship at Verona, N.Y.

Kuchar had a 67 to match Piercy at 14-under 202 on the Atunyote Golf Club course. Rod Pampling (65) and Leif Olson (68) were a stroke back.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: Gale force wind forced the postponement of the third round of the Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland.