Sorenstam and Hurst on top at U.S. Women's Open

Golf Betting Lines

07/02/2006 - Newport, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Annika Sorenstam, a two-time winner of this event, and Pat Hurst both posted rounds of even-par 71 on Saturday and are tied for the lead after two rounds of the U.S. Women's Open. The pair is knotted at two-under-par 140 and are the only players under par at Newport Country Club.

Michelle Wie overcame a double-bogey on her eighth hole to shoot a one-over 72 in round two. She is tied for third place at even-par 142 with amateur Jane Park (73) and Shi Hyun Ahn (71).

Two-time U.S. Women's Open champion Juli Inkster (70), Rookie of the Year Paula Creamer (72), reigning Women's British Open winner Jeong Jang (71), Stacy Prammanasudh (71) and LPGA Champion Se Ri Pak (74) are knotted in fifth place at one-over-par 143.

The second round was contested on Saturday after a dense fog caused the suspension of play on Thursday before a single shot was struck. With no weather problems in the forecast, the plan is to play 36 holes on Sunday.

Wie began her round on the back nine and rolled in a nine-foot birdie putt at the 12th. She missed a four-footer for par at 15, but reclaimed the lost stroke with a birdie at 16.

At the par-three 17th and tied for the lead, Wie needed two to get out of a muddy bunker and walked off with a double-bogey. She got back into red figures with a short birdie putt at the third, but missed the fairway en route to a bogey at the sixth.

One hole later, Wie hit a hideous tee shot left. She took an unplayable lie and hit an amazing shot from the shrubs to 10 feet. Wie canned the putt to save a spectacular par.

"I hit it right where I wanted to, and it was all-in-all a very good hole, and right after the ball went into the hole I kind of laughed at myself," said Wie. "It was pretty ridiculous."

If Wie is to visit the winner's circle on Sunday afternoon, she will have to get through the game's top superstar and one of the steadiest veterans on the LPGA Tour.

Sorenstam began Saturday's second round on the back nine and netted nine pars, a strong score in a U.S. Open with windy conditions. She extended her par streak on her second nine with four more, then collected her first birdie at the par-three fifth when her four-iron tee ball stopped 14 feet from the stick.

The Swede dropped a shot at the sixth when her approach came up short of the green. Sorenstam chipped to seven feet, but two-putted to fall back to minus- two and bogey the hole for the second consecutive day.

At the seventh, Sorenstam hit a sand-wedge to 16 feet to set up birdie. She lost sole possession of the lead at her final hole when her seven-wood approach came up short of the putting surface. Sorenstam chipped to eight feet, but missed the putt to fall back to two-under par.

"As I reflect on the last two days, I'm very happy with the way I played," said Sorenstam. "If you would have told me I was going to be two-under after 36 holes, I would have said, 'I'll take it.' I'm very happy."

Sorenstam is mired in what some call a slump as the most dominant player on the LPGA Tour the last few years has only visited the winner's circle once this season.

Also, since Sorenstam burst on to the golf scene with back-to-back wins at this event in 1995-96, she has gone winless at the U.S. Women's Open. She has pocketed seven major championships since 2001, but not this one.

"I don't really count the years I don't win a certain event," acknowledged Sorenstam. "I'm just happy that I have two championships like this, and I'm excited to be back every year."

With most of the hype surrounding not just her fellow co-leader, but the 16- year-old behind her on the leaderboard, Hurst may be in a perfect position to sneak in a win.

She has a major championship (1998 Kraft Nabisco Championship), and the 36- hole marathon on Sunday won't be a problem. Hurst participated in every session of last year's Solheim Cup.

"I think I just need to take it one step at a time and not push myself and just walk down the fairways nice and slowly and not rush to the ball," said Hurst. "I've been out there long enough and this is my 12th year, and I try to learn off my experiences."

Hurst posted a bogey on the third hole, but came back with a long birdie putt at the par-three fifth. She dropped another shot at six, but atoned for it quickly with a 15-foot birdie putt at seven. Hurst rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the eighth to reach three-under par for the championship.

At the 12th, Hurst drove into the left rough, but she was able to reach the green with her second. Unfortunately, she three-putted from 45 feet for a bogey to fall back to minus-two.

The problems didn't end there for Hurst. Her four-iron tee ball at the par- three 13th landed in a right bunker and she blasted out through the other side of the green. Hurst missed her 15-footer from the fringe for par to fall one behind Sorenstam.

Hurst birdied the 16th to tie Sorenstam for the lead.

"Obviously I feel pretty good, sitting here in the lead with Annika. But we've got 36 more holes, so anything can happen tomorrow," said Hurst. "I'm just going to go out and play the best I can."

The LPGA Tour's leading money winner, Lorena Ochoa shot a two-over 73 on Saturday and is part of a group tied for 11th at plus-two.

Karrie Webb, a two-time champion of this event and the reigning Kraft Nabisco Championship winner, carded a five-over 76 and is through 36 holes at seven- over-par 149.

The 36-hole cut fell at eight-over-par 150 and players with recent success at this tournament did not fare well.

Last year's runner-up Brittany Lang (151), 2004 champion Meg Mallon (154) and last year's winner Birdie Kim (154) all have Sunday off.