Updated at 11:37 p.m., Friday, October 13, 2006
Wie shoots even par Friday, trails by eight
Advertiser Staff
PALM DESERT, Calif. — Michelle Wie steadied her play Friday by shooting an even-par 72 during the second round of the Samsung World Championship, an event that features the top women's golfers in the world.The 17-year-old Wie is at 2-over-par 146 for the tournament, eight strokes off the pace at the Bighorn Golf Club. She is tied for 15th with Natalie Gulbis, who also shot even par today.
Annika Sorenstam, Sophie Gustafson and Paula Creamer shared the tournament lead at 6-under 138.
Lorena Ochoa, who started the day tied for the lead, fell two strokes off the pace by shooting a 73.
Wie shook off a double-bogey 7 on the par-5 third hole Friday with a birdie on the par-4 fifth hole, a birdie on the par-3 eighth, and another birdie on the par-5 12th.
Wie then bogeyed the par-3 13th, birdied the par-4 14th, and bogeyed the par-5 15th.
Wie, who is seeking her first LPGA victory, shot a 2-over 74 Thursday in an opening round that included a quadruple bogey 8 on the 14th hole.
The 72-hole event features 20 golfers, including the top three LPGA money leaders — Ochoa ($2.1 million), Karrie Webb ($1.87M), and defending champion Sorenstam ($1.769M). Ochoa has played in 22 LPGA events this year with Webb playing 18 and Sorenstam 17.
Wie has earned $718,343 in seven LPGA events.
lpga.com contributed to this report
