Lorena Ochoa created a birdie opportunity on nearly every hole

Lorena Ochoa set herself up to capture a third straight major title as she held a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Championship.

The world number one shot a seven-under-par 65 to finish day two at Bulle Rock, Maryland, on 10 under.

Australian Lindsey Wright is second on nine under, while overnight joint leader Lorie Kane was a shot behind.

Three-time LPGA champion Annika Sorenstam was in a quartet on six-under after shooting a 68.

Australia's Rachel Hetherington (69), South Korea's Ji Young Oh (68) and American Brittany Lang (67) were tied for fourth on seven under.

Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway shot a 68 and was five shots off the lead on five under.

The 26-year-old Ochoa was in imperious form and created a birdie opportunity on nearly every hole. She finished the round with seven birdies, five from inside eight feet.

The way I'm hitting I'm just waiting for the putts to drop. It could be a lot of fun Annika Sorenstam

Ochoa, whose previous best finish in an LPGA Championship was a tie for fifth in 2005, refused to get carried away after her good start.

"If I keep playing this way then I'm going to have a good chance," said Ochoa who has won six of her nine previous LPGA starts this season.

"I am not going to say that I will win because you never know what is going to happen.

"A couple of players could go really crazy on the weekend and shoot really low. But I'm just happy that I feel so good with my own game.

"I'm really comfortable, don't feel any stress and am just going to keep being aggressive."

Sweden's Sorenstam, who announced last month that she was retiring at the end of the season, had six birdies to counter two bogeys on her inward run.

"I think I'm in good shape," she said.

"You know, I played well here in the past. It's a major and really two days, or actually 36 holes, is nothing.

"The way I'm hitting I'm just waiting for the putts to drop. It could be a lot of fun."