LPGA AT BERNARDO HEIGHTS : Okamoto Takes It Easy, Extends Lead to 3 Strokes

“Ochitsuku” describes the way Ayako Okamoto has felt during this week’s LPGA Kyocera Inamori Golf Classic.

That means “it’s relaxing” in Japanese.

Okamoto--who played in front of a gallery that included many Japanese supporters Saturday and who is staying at a Japanese friend’s house in Carlsbad, where she has rice patties for breakfast--has felt right at home this week in San Diego.

Her performance on the course at the Bernardo Heights Country Club reflects her relaxed state.

Okamoto shot a three-under-par 69 Saturday to increase her lead to three strokes over Pat Bradley (71) and Betsy King (71) after three rounds. She has led after each round and is at 11-under 205.

Defending champion Patty Sheehan (71) is four strokes back, and Penny Hammel (72) and Dale Eggeling (low round at 66) are five back.

At one point Saturday, there were nine golfers within three shots of Okamoto, but she never lost her lead.

“A lot of the Japanese were out there today, and that was nice,” said Okamoto through her manager and translator, Margie Kato. “Unfortunately, I didn’t hit balls outside the rope, so I couldn’t go out and say hello.” She laughed.

A reporter mentioned that there appeared to be more Japanese media following her Saturday. Okamoto--who feels less pressure when media from her homeland are not around--said: “It’s OK as long as they stay behind the ropes.”

Okamoto seemed to be more relaxed both on the course and during her interview with the media Saturday.

“I enjoyed my round very much because I was hitting the ball better than the last two days,” she said.

Okamoto says she can usually gauge the type of round she will play by how she feels at the driving range before teeing off.

“A lot of things greeted me with a smile today,” Okamoto said.

She birdied the fourth and seventh holes, bogeyed eight and nine and then birdied 11, 12 and 13.

One of the fans who followed Okamoto Saturday was Mike Konishi, a friend who is hosting Okamoto, Kato and Okamoto’s caddy at his home. Konishi teaches golf to youngsters and has worked with Okamoto in the past.

“They haven’t discussed anything technical this week,” Kato said. “She dislikes talking about golf after playing. They’ve talked about trivial things.”

Such as what they will cook for dinner.

“That family atmosphere has helped,” Kato said, “but we have to race for the showers because there are also nine students staying in the house. But Ayako has priority.”

After another night of sleeping on the hard floor to help her back, Okamoto will try to maintain her reputation of being a strong front-runner when she tees off today.

“Okamoto is an outstanding front-runner,” Sheehan said.

When told about Sheehan’s comment, Okamoto said: “If Patty Sheehan says so, maybe I am.”

Said Sheehan: “She’s hitting long, hitting the ball well and she’s concentrating well. She’ll be tough to catch, but it’s possible. I definitely can win this tournament. It’s whether I come out and perform the way I can.”

On Saturday, Sheehan was erratic and she said she was on “another plane.”

“It was a really fun, fun day,” Sheehan said sarcastically. “It was a strange day because I concentrated weird. I seemed to not be quite there today. I was out in space somewhere. Hopefully my plane will get back tonight.”

King, playing with Okamoto and Bradley, also had a strange round Saturday. She was two over on the front nine, eagled the par-five 11th and 13th holes and bogeyed the 12th.

“I’m starting to feel a little letdown (after winning the Nabisco Dinah Shore last week),” King said. “I had bad swings and bad shots on the front nine. Normally, you don’t play too many rounds when you don’t make a birdie. I feel pretty fortunate to make two eagles to stay in it.”

How does Okamoto feel entering the final round?

“On the average, I have won more times when I was in the lead,” she said. “But those names on the leader board can easily catch up. I fear all of them.”

As Sheehan was finishing up her interview and Okamoto was waiting to begin hers, Sheehan told Okamoto, “Nice round today. Maybe not so good tomorrow.”