Posted on: Saturday, October 16, 2004

Wie continues to struggle on greens in Samsung World

Associated Press

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Grace Park followed her sensational first round with a steady, 5-under 67 yesterday and opened a four-shot lead midway through the Samsung World Championship.

Amateur Michelle Wie matched par and was at 146 through two rounds. Wie, a 10th-grader at Punahou School in Honolulu who turned 15 on Monday, was ahead of only Laura Davies (147) in the select 20-player field.

Park, who had perhaps the best round of her career when she shot a 62 to begin the tournament, is at 15-under 129 through 36 holes at Bighorn Golf Club.

Shi Hyun Ahn, like Park a native of South Korea, and Karen Stupples matched 65s and were tied for second at 133.

Three-time tournament champion Annika Sorenstam (68) was tied for fourth, five shots off the lead, with Cristie Kerr (68), Lorena Ochoa (68) and Catriona Matthew (70) at 134.

Wie described her round as "sad," and said that her putting remained in the rut it had been in Thursday's first round.

"The ball kept finding ways not to go in," Wie said. "You have to get over that because it's all about momentum.

"If I just made all the putts, I can shoot six or seven under. I'm going for low scores. I'm going to be playing pretty aggressive. My mind-set is to try to shoot 54, to try to birdie every hole."