MORELIA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa closed in on the last point she needs to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, shooting her third straight 7-under 66 yesterday to take a seven-stroke lead in the Corona Championship.

If Ochoa wins today, the 26-year-old Mexican star will become the youngest player to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Se Ri Pak was 26 years and a few months older than Ochoa when she qualified by winning the 2004 Michelob Ultra Open.

She said she wasn't thinking about the Hall of Fame as she prepared for today. And she didn't have big celebration plans.

"I'm going to jump in the car with my sister and her husband and drive back home," she said.

The LPGA Tour awards one point for every victory and major award and two points for a major victory. Ochoa still must play 10 years on the LPGA Tour before she becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame, a goal she would reach in the 2012 season.

Ochoa also is in position for her third straight victory and fourth in five starts this season. She entered the week with 20 LPGA Tour titles.

South Korea's Inbee Park (72) was second at 14 under, and compatriot Song-Hee Kim (71) followed at 13 under.

Park said she it would be difficult to catch Ochoa today.

"She plays good every day, and it is hard to keep up," Park said. "It's a pretty big gap to catch up."

Ochoa, a stroke ahead of Park at the start of play yesterday, pulled away from the pack with seven birdies — on Nos. 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 16.

A victory today would be her second at the rugged Tres Marias course, a 4-year-old layout in western Mexico.

Ochoa won the 2006 Corona event, her only tournament win on Mexican soil.

A huge crowd gathered at the first hole yesterday and greeted the Mexican hero with thundering applause, Mexican flags and shouts of "Come on, champ!"

"Every time I hit the ball, they cheer and scream, and it's just great," Ochoa said before heading out to sign autographs.