Wie, 14, has a two-round total of 3-under 139, eight strokes behind leader Kim Williams, who shot an 8-under 63 yesterday at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa course at Williamsburg, Va.

Wie made four birdies yesterday despite a still-balky putter.

"I think I positioned myself very well today," the Punahou School ninth- grader said. "I just have to play two more good rounds and I think I am in the hunt."

Wie needed 29 putts, one more than she used Thursday when she finished 1 over.

She is scheduled to tee off at 5:20 a.m. Hawai'i time.

Williams was at 131, four strokes ahead of Soo-Yun Kang (70) and Christina Kim (67).

Williams has been around long enough to know that a sparkling second round in a golf tournament guarantees little.

"I am just happy I made the cut," she said.

Williams posted one of the few bogey-free rounds of the first two days, and made six birdies and an eagle on the 6,270-yard layout. It was the best round of her 16-year career. She's still seeking her first victory, but said it's too early to start thinking about celebrating.

"Can you tell me who was leading halfway through the Super Bowl? No. Can you tell me who was leading halfway through the Boston Marathon? No," she said. "You know who won. ... I have led the U.S. Open after the first day a couple of times. All it gets you is making the cut."

Williams has a long way to go before worrying about winning. The tournament's $2.2 million purse is the third-largest on the women's tour, and has attracted as start-studded a crowd as the LPGA can offer.

Among those seemingly poised to make a move is Annika Sorenstam, who showed with one swing why she's the best female player in the world.

Buried in thick rough 45 feet from the hole on the par-3 17th hole, Sorenstam chipped in, the highlight of an otherwise frustrating day that kept her within striking distance.

Still, she was within eight of the lead with two rounds to go.

"I don't think anything went my way today," the six-time player of the year said after an even-par 71. "One shot. One shot on 17 went in. Other than that, I haven't made a putt (longer) than 3 feet."

Williams' closest pursuers were fellow non-winners Kang and Kim, and there were some heavy hitting names not far behind.

Among those five back are Jennifer Rosales, coming off a win last week, who had five consecutive birdies on the front in a 67, and Cristie Kerr, who was 7 under after 13 holes before giving a stroke back and shooting 65.

Both are at 136, as is Suzann Pettersen, who shot 67 in her second event since January surgery to remove bone chips from her right elbow.

"My game is getting better every day," she said.

Kang followed an opening 65 with a 70, and said fatigue was a factor after a late dinner Thursday was followed by a 5 a.m. wake-up yesterday.

Kim, who held the lead after the first round last week outside Atlanta, hopes to handle it better this time. Last week, she followed a 65 with a 74.