Sorenstam settles into four-way tie for lead

Shock turned to disgust for Annika Sorenstam at the end of a topsy-turvy round on Friday in the Arch Wireless Championship, and not even her position at the top of a crowded leaderboard was much consolation.

Shock turned to disgust for Annika Sorenstam at the end of a topsy-turvy round on Friday in the Arch Wireless Championship, and not even her position at the top of a crowded leaderboard was much consolation.

Hopeful of taking a two-stroke lead into the weekend, the Swede three-putted from about 10 feet on the 18th hole for bogey and slipped back into a tie for the lead with Meg Mallon, Dottie Pepper and Leta Lindley

"I shouldn't be so down, but I just threw two shots away and I worked so hard for all of them," said Sorenstam, who also had a three-putt bogey on the 16th during an otherwise solid round of 71.

"It's hard to enjoy this, even though I'm in good shape for the weekend," she said. "It ruined my whole day."

It sure livened up the tournament.

Instead of some breathing room for the weekend, Sorenstam fell back to 139 and allowed several players back into contention in the LPGA Tour's season-ending event.

"It was one of those wild days where nothing looked good in the air," Pepper said after her round of 71. "We had three switches in weather."

Mallon had an even-par 72, while Lindley had a 71.

What began as a warm and windy afternoon soon gave way to clouds and rain. And just when the leaders settled into soft, still conditions, another blast of wind came through that made the final three holes difficult.

Mallon had a 6-iron for her third shot on the par-5 16th, but nestled it to 4 feet for a birdie that put her at 6 under. She gave it right back by hitting too much club on the 17th, and walked off the Legends Course at LPGA International in much better spirits than Sorenstam.

"I'm thankful that I shot even par and didn't lose any ground," Mallon said. "Maybe it's a testament to this golf course."

It was a testament to a crazy day of changing weather and changing leaders - five players had at least a share of the lead at some point during the second round. When it was over, a dozen players were within five shots of the top.

Lorie Kane (73) and Grace Park were at 140, while Laura Davies (71) was another stroke behind. The best round of the day belonged to Juli Inkster, who played to her Hall of Fame standards with a 6-under 66 that left her at 144.

Karie Webb, who needs to win to become the LPGA's first dlrs 2 million player, had a 71 and was at 2-over 146, just seven strokes back.

"I just want to finish off with two good rounds," Webb said. "But if it's not windy, I don't have a chance."

The score of 139 tied for the third-highest 36-hole lead on the LPGA Tour this year, behind such tournaments as the U.S. Open and three others where the wind was howling.

"I didn't hear a whole lot of yelling out there," Pepper said, an indication of how difficult the course played and how closely bunched the leaders were. "You have to beat the golf course and not beat yourself. You have to play good golf to get your name on the board."

That's just what Sorenstam was doing.

She played the first 33 holes without a bogey, then three-putted from 30 feet on the par-5 16th to break that string. After a nice birdie on the difficult 17th, she was poised to take a two-stroke lead after hitting her 7-iron shot 10 feet below the hole.

The first putt went about 2 feet by, and Sorenstam was shocked when her par putt curled around the lip.

There was a time when some of those short putts would spook her. Sorenstam thought she had worked those feelings out of her system, but they returned at a bad time Friday.

"Right when you think you've got it, it hits you," she said. "But that's what makes it fun. It's a constant battle. I like puzzles, and golf to me is a puzzle."

Just about anyone in the 30-player field of top money-winners will sort it out this weekend.

Scores and relation to par after the second round of the $1 million Arch Wireless Championship, on the par-72 (36-36), 6,497-yard LPGA International Legends course:

Dottie Pepper 68-71-139 -5 Annika Sorenstam 68-71-139 -5 Leta Lindley 68-71-139 -5 Meg Mallon 67-72-139 -5 Grace Park 69-71-140 -4 Lorie Kane 67-73-140 -4 Laura Davies 70-71-141 -3 Michele Redman 71-71-142 -2 Janice Moodie 71-71-142 -2 Brandie Burton 69-73-142 -2 Michelle McGann 72-71-143 -1 Rachel Hetherington 72-71-143 -1 Charlotta Sorenstam 70-73-143 -1 Kelli Kuehne 70-73-143 -1 Juli Inkster 78-66-144 E Catriona Matthew 71-73-144 E Sherri Steinhauer 74-71-145 +1 Nancy Scranton 73-72-145 +1 Betsy King 73-72-145 +1 Kelly Robbins 73-72-145 +1 Sophie Gustafson 69-76-145 +1 Rosie Jones 76-70-146 +2 Karrie Webb 75-71-146 +2 Dorothy Delasin 71-75-146 +2 Wendy Doolan 76-71-147 +3 Se Ri Pak 75-73-148 +4 Becky Iverson 74-74-148 +4 Beth Daniel 72-76-148 +4 Pat Hurst 72-76-148 +4 Carin Koch 77-74-151 +7