EVIAN, France -- Michelle Wie fired a 6-under 66 Thursday to move into a share of the lead after two rounds of the Evian Masters. Wie was joined at 9-under-par 135 by Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa.
Webb, who claimed the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this year, posted a 4-under 68, while Ochoa carded a 3-under 69 to get to minus-9.
Lorena Ochoa is in search of her third victory of the season.
Se Ri Pak is alone in fourth place at minus-8 after a second straight round of 4-under 68.
Mi Hyun Kim, who shared the lead after round one with Ochoa and Shani Waugh, is at 7-under-par 137 after a 1-under 71 in round two.
Women’s world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam notched her second straight 3-under 69. She stands alongside defending champion Paula Creamer and Lorie Kane in sixth place at minus-6.
Sorenstam carded a bogey at the first and birdies on three and five to move to minus-4. Around the turn, she carded three birdies and a bogey.
Wie got off to a quick start with a 4-foot birdie putt on the first, then back-to-back birdies from the third. She pitched her third at the par-5 seventh within tap-in range to get to 7 under.
The young Hawaiian drained a 10-foot birdie try on the 10th, then drained a 30-footer for birdie at the next to move to minus-9. Wie still trailed at that point, but the leaders (Webb and Ochoa) fell back to her as she parred the final seven holes.
‘I made some good pars and I feel a lot better then yesterday,’ Wie stated. ‘I still feel like I left a lot of shots out there, but overall my game feels good. Hopefully, I will be able to maintain it.’
Ochoa moved to 10 under with four birdies on the opening nine at Evian Masters Golf Club, but trouble loomed for the Mexican. She tripped to a bogey on the par-4 12th.
The 24-year-old Ochoa faltered to back-to-back bogeys from the 14th to slide to minus-7. She got one stroke back with a birdie on 16 and gained a share of the lead with a birdie on the par-5 closing hole.
‘I think I am in a good position for the weekend. I did struggle a little bit on the back nine with three bogeys,’ Ochoa admitted. ‘That was tough, but I ended up making two birdies on the last three holes. I am hitting the ball pretty good.’
Webb birdied three of the first five holes to climb to minus-8. After a bogey on the sixth, she reclaimed that lost stroke with a birdie at the seventh.
The 31-year-old Australian eagled the par-5 ninth and came right back with a birdie on 10 to get to 11 under, which gave her the lead. Webb stumbled to a three-putt double-bogey on the 13th to drop to minus-9.
Webb gave another stroke back as she bogeyed the 16th, but managed to grab a share of the lead with a birdie at the last.
‘I got off to a great start again today. I was 5 under at the turn and then birdied 10 to get to 6 under for the day,’ said Webb. ‘I made a double-bogey on 13, so that was pretty careless. I am pretty happy with my performance and I feel like I am putting well this week.’
Waugh struggled to a 1-over 73. That dropped her into a share of ninth at 5-under-par 139, where she was joined by two-time winner Laura Davies (71).
Jeong Jang, who will defend her crown at the Women’s British Open next week, is a stroke back at minus-4. She stands alongside Carin Koch, Suzann Pettersen and Maria Hjorth.
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