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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, June 11, 2005

Wie trails Sorenstam by 5

Advertiser News Services

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — As Yogi Berra once famously proclaimed, "It ain't over till it's over." But he hadn't seen Annika Sorenstam play golf.

Michelle Wie shot a 1-under-par 71, despite missing five putts from 15 feet or less on the front nine.

Gail Burton • Associated Press

Not that there was the slightest chance Sorenstam would go belly-up at Bulle Rock yesterday, but after her 68 on Thursday, the Steamrollin' Swede even did one better. On a hot, muggy day when the pins were tucked to up the ante, she still shot a 5-under 67 — the round of the day — for a 9-under total and a two-shot lead over Laura Davies (67-70) at the midway point of the McDonald's LPGA Championship.

"They put some pins in evil spots today," Davies said. "It got really difficult."

Sorenstam, of course, had no complaints. "I'm obviously very happy where I'm at and the way I'm playing," she said. "It's very steady, hitting fairways and greens. I'm putting well. I could not have asked for a better start."

Michelle Wie was not putting well yesterday. The 15-year-old Punahou student shot a 1-under 71 and is tied for ninth, five shots behind Sorenstam.

Yesterday Wie was in the first group off the 10th tee in the second round at Bulle Rock Golf Club. While the idea of a 7:15 a.m. tee time might not seem desirable to some, Wie welcomed the chance to lead the field.

"It's a total advantage because it's not hot, for one, and No. 2, the greens are perfect because they just cut it. That's great," Wie said.

Wie wasn't able to take advantage of the freshly mowed greens, missing five putts from 15 feet or less on the front nine.

The frustration showed as Wie froze after an 8-foot miss at No. 12, and she looked to the sky when her 9-foot birdie try slid by at 14. She pulled her hat over her eyes following a 14-foot miss at No. 16.

She blamed an early three-putt on her continuing troubles.

"Every single putt," she said. "After that three-putt on 11, it was a little hard for me to trust my speed. I guess it was just bad luck. I put myself in birdie positions.

"Tomorrow, I hope to make some putts. Who knows?"

One day after nearly getting sick on the field because of eating too much, Wie said she felt fine yesterday.

"I feel a lot better," she said. "You know, after a good night's sleep yesterday and I didn't eat a lot of breakfast today, so I feel good."

Annika Sorenstam

Laura Davies
Sorenstam's relentless assault on the tournament's new, more difficult venue raised the question: What would it take to halt her march toward a three-peat at the McDonald's and her second major title of the year? Divine intervention? Locusts?

Her assault raised the hackles of her closest pursuer. Davies, 41, is the veteran Brit with the wry wit, winless in four years, who needs only a win this week to assume her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

"She hasn't had a bogey yet this week," Davies said, almost incredulous over the Sorenstam Stomp. "She's getting on my nerves."

Davies can only hope that with that comment she somehow put a hex on Sorenstam. As it happened, as she spoke, Sorenstam, the poor thing, was out on the course, suffering her first bogey in 55 holes — a streak that dated from last week's ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway Township, N.J., her fifth win of the year.

Sorenstam's maiden miscue of the week occurred at Bulle Rock's behemoth 596-yard 11th hole, very much a 3-shot par 5 for the women. With a fairway bunker looming 255 yards off the tee, she laid back off the tee with a 4-wood, pumped her second shot near the green, then chipped to 10 feet. Alas, she 3-putted, missing a two-footer to save par.

If you had to pick nits about Sorenstam's otherwise stellar start, it would be that she is par on Bulle Rock's birdie-friendly par 5s; by contrast, she's 7 under on the bogey-friendly par 4s.

"I have not played the par 5s well," she said, slightly baffled. "I thought about it last night and thought today would be better, but it's worse today. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I think I'm playing sensible."

Despite another solid round by her young playing partner, Natalie Gulbis (67-71), who was 1 stroke behind Davies at 6 under, Sorenstam took the lead coming down the homestretch. She carded three birdies on the final five holes, starting with a sand-wedge shot to 18 inches on the 14th, another sand-wedge approach to three feet on the 16th, and a 7-iron to two feet on the par-3 17th.

Gulbis, who has never won on Tour, is still very much in the picture, as are Marisa Baena (70-69), Tina Fischer (68-71), Laura Diaz (67-72), Moira Dunn (71-68) and Il Mi Chung (71-68), all 4 shots behind at 5 under.

Eighty players made the 5-over cut.

Among those who didn't survive to the weekend were two-time champion Se Ri Pak (75-78), who had hoped to kick-start her season this week.

• • •

Leaderboard

At Bulle Rock Golf Club, Havre de Grace, Md. Yardage: 6,488; Par: 72

a—amateur

Annika Sorenstam 68-67—135 -9
Laura Davies 67-70—137 -7
Natalie Gulbis 67-71—138 -6
Il Mi Chung 71-68—139 -5
Moira Dunn 71-68—139 -5
Marisa Baena 70-69—139 -5
Tina Fischer 68-71—139 -5
Laura Diaz 67-72—139 -5
Nicole Perrot 72-68—140 -4
a-Michelle Wie 69-71—140 -4
Young Kim 73-68—141 -3
Rosie Jones 72-69—141 -3
Liselotte Neumann 70-71—141 -3
Meena Lee 70-71—141 -3
Paula Creamer 68-73—141 -3