Ochoa Makes a Charge and Takes Lead by Two

Lorena Ochoa just loves the rain.

The budding Mexican star, who grew up in rainy Guadalajara, shot a three-under-par 69 to surge past Becky Morgan and into the second-round lead of the Rochester LPGA at Pittsford, N.Y.

Ochoa, who began the day three shots behind Morgan, finished her round in a steady rain and was at eight-under 136. Morgan faltered late and shot a 74 to tie Maria Hjorth (68) for second at 138.

“I took advantage of the opportunities and finished strong,” said Ochoa, a runner-up three times this year and third on the money list. “But I don’t know how I shot so good. It’s weird. Sometimes, things go your way.”

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Annika Sorenstam shoots for her third major championship victory next week at the U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in suburban Denver and will play the first two rounds in a group that includes Rosie Jones and Ochoa, according to the announced pairings.

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Hockey

The labor agreement being negotiated by the NHL and the players’ association probably will be completed in the next three weeks but it might be rejected when put to a vote of players, a source familiar with the issues said after the two sides ended four days of talks and agreed to reconvene Monday in Toronto.

The source said many players believe that their executive committee has made too many concessions in accepting a framework based on a hard salary cap linked to 54% of league-wide revenues.

If the executive committee recommends a deal to the rank and file, a majority vote is required for approval. If the proposal is voted down, the executive committee would be obliged to resign and negotiations would start over, likely with Executive Director Bob Goodenow wielding more power, the source said.

Wal-Mart heirs Bill and Nancy Laurie, owners of the St. Louis Blues, announced they plan to sell the franchise, which they said lost more than $60 million in the last two years.

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Tennis

Kim Clijsters of Belgium defeated defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and Vera Douchevina of Russia defeated Roberta Vinci of Italy, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in the semifinals at Eastbourne, England.

Richard Gasquet of France defeated Taylor Dent, 6-4, 6-2, and Max Mirnyi of Belarus defeated Olivier Rochus of Belgium, 6-4, 7-5, in the semifinals of the 10tele.com Open at Nottingham, England.

In the quarterfinals of the Ordina Open at Den Bosch, Netherlands, Mark Philippoussis of Australia defeated Davide Sanguinetti of Italy, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (0); defending champion Michael Llodra of France defeated Lars Burgsmuller of Germany, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3; Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 7-6 (1), 6-2, and third-seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia defeated Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

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Soccer

Spain, Morocco, Ukraine and China reached the second round of the under-20 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

Spain defeated Honduras, 3-0, at Doetinchem to win Group C and Morocco finished second after defeating Chile, 1-0, at Utrecht.

In Group B, undefeated China secured first place with a 4-1 victory over Panama at Utrecht and Ukraine tied Turkey, 2-2, at Doetinchem to claim second place on goal difference over Turkey.

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Motor Racing

Ralf Schumacher escaped serious injury when he crashed during practice for the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, an accident that the Toyota team blamed on tire failure.

Schumacher went to a hospital to have his eye examined because he believed he had dirt or other debris in it.

Justin Wilson won the provisional pole for the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland, Ore., with a course-record lap of 57.597 seconds. The lap at 122.756 mph guarantees Wilson a front-row spot for Sunday’s race.

Defending champion Sebastien Bourdais had the third-fastest lap -- 57.825 -- but had to forfeit the time because he came out of the pits just as Wilson was passing by, a rule infraction. He fell to fifth at 57.989 (121.927 mph).

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Miscellany

Boxer Ruben Contreras, unconscious since suffering a serious head injury in a May 28 fight at Staples Center, has awoken from his coma and is responsive, but remains unable to speak, according to California Hospital Medical Center spokesperson Katreena Salgado. Contreras, 32, has been moved out of the intensive care unit.

Free agent Az-Zahir Hakim will not sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, Coach Dick Vermeil said. Hakim and his agent felt the receiver would fit in better somewhere else, Vermeil said.

Matt McKinney, a 6-foot-8 junior forward for UCLA’s basketball team and member of the Bruins’ volleyball team, announced he would not compete in either sport next season. McKinney has struggled with stamina issues related to medication he takes for a stomach condition.

Pepperdine catcher Chad Tracy and Cal State Fullerton shortstop Blake Davis were invited to try out for the U.S. national team. UCLA recruit David Huff, a left-handed pitcher who played at UC Irvine and Cypress College, also will be among the 39 players competing for roster spots on the 20-man team.

Nicole Powell scored 18 points to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to a 67-50 home victory over the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA game.

Mark Matuzak of Loyola won the two-mile in 8:51.13 at the Nike outdoor high school championships in Greensboro, N.C.