Running Updates

Ochoa Grabs Brief Lead Before Shin Takes Over

Southern Pines, N.C. – Just before play was suspended at 8:05 p.m. EDT due to darkness Saturday, the world’s top female player, Lorena Ochoa, forged a four-way tie when she birdied the 10^th hole Saturday at Pine Needles. Ochoa grabbed a piece of the pie with Cristie Kerr, Ji-Yai Shin and Angela Park in the lead. It was short-lived, however, as Shin took possession of the outright lead with a birdie on the 10^th hole, which was the third-easiest hole thus far in the round. It has yielded a scoring average of 5.026 strokes. Seventy-two percent of the players in the championship have hit the 10^th green in regulation.

With a birdie on the 10^th hole, a 518-yard par 5, Morgan Pressel moved to 3 under, deadlocked with Amy Hung.

Kerr Claws To Top

Southern Pines, N.C. – Cristie Kerr, who played in her first Women’s Open at Pine Needles in 1996 as an amateur, jumped into the lead with her fifth birdie in 11 holes Saturday. She caught Angela Park and Ji-Yai Shin for the top spot. Park and Shin were about to make the turn.

Tightening Up

Southern Pines, N.C. – Angela Park and Ji-Yai Shin held the top spot after Amy Hung bogeyed the seventh hole Saturday.

The bogey dropped Hung into a tie with Cristie Kerr (4-under 31 on her front) and Lorena Ochoa, who carded 3-under 32 upon making the turn.

Three-Way Tie

Southern Pines, N.C. – When Amy Hung bogeyed the fifth hole, a logjam ensued on the leaderboard. Hung, Angela Park and Ji-Yai Shin were deadlocked at four under par for the championship.

All three are relatively newcomers to the Women’s Open. This marks Hung’s third appearance, her best finish a T-24^th last year; Park’s second in which she’s never made a cut until this week; and Shin is making her debut.

Hung Hones In

Southern Pines, N.C. – Amy Hung, 27, caught Angela Park, 19, with a birdie on the third hole Saturday. It was her second of birdie of the round to drop to five under par.

Ji-Yai Shin had bogeyed her second hole but bounced back with a birdie on No. 3 to stand one stroke off the lead. Julieta Granda, Cristie Kerr and Lorena Ochoa were tied at two under par.

Park’s Putter Still Hot

Southern Pines, N.C. – Picking up where she left off in the second round, Angela Park relied on a hot putter to birdie her first hole in the third frame. The 6-footer pushed her score to 6 under, two strokes ahead of Amy Hung and Ji-Yai Shin. Park completed her second round with two remarkable par-save putts from 12 and 22 feet, respectively.

Shin had a chance to eagle the par-5 first hole when her approach landed 6 feet above the hole. But she couldn’t convert on the putt. Hung, in the same grouping as Shin, knocked in a 5-footer for her birdie.

Making her presence felt, Lorena Ochoa moved to a red number with a birdie on her first hole. She then birdied the third hole by finessing in a hole-high 10-footer from left to right. She’s now 5 under through her last 14 holes. Cristie Kerr joined Ochoa in the red with consecutive birdies on four and five.

Sorenstam Starts Strong

Southern Pines, N.C. – Annika Sorenstam, one of 13 former USGA champions to make the cut, began her round with a 10-foot putt for birdie on the 518-yard, par-5 10^th hole. She moved to four over par. It was the second time Sorenstam birdied No. 10; she also carded a double bogeying in the second round.

Paula Creamer birdied the 11^th and 12^th to fall to two over par.

Hot Choi

Southern Pines, N.C. – Hye Jung Choi got back into contention with a second-round 68 and she continues to remain sizzling hot in round three. She posted an eagle-3 at the par-5 first hole to get to one over par for the championship, six behind leader Angela Park. It was the third eagle on the hole this week. Choi chipped in from 90 feet. Amanda Blumenherst and Sakura Yokomine each eagled the hole in round two.

A total of six eagles have been recorded in the 2007 Women’s Open, three of which have occurred on par-4 holes. Se Ri Pak holed out on the par-4 17th hole in round two with a 4-iron from 190 yards.

Cut Line Established, Third Round Begins

Southern Pines, N.C. – The third round of the Women’s Open began with 67 players making the cut, established at 6-over 148.

Some of the notable players who are heading home were past Open champions Meg Mallon (15-over 157), Juli Inkster (7-over 149), Karrie Webb (12-over 154), as well as Suzanne Pettersen ( 7-over 149) and 12-year-old Alexis Thompson (16-over 158).

Four amateurs did make the cut.

Granada Stumbles, Ochoa Finishes Even

Southern Pines, N.C. – A bogey on the 17^th hole dropped Julieta Granada to 2 under for the championship, three strokes behind leader Angela Park.

Morgan Pressel stayed in the hunt by carding a 1-under 70 Saturday to stand 1-under aggregate. The world’s No. 1, Lorena Ochoa, joined three others at even par after her level 71 Saturday. Ochoa didn’t play Friday due to the weather, using the time to her advantage.

"I really needed the rest after last week," she said in reference to winning the Wegmans LPGA in a playoff.

Ochoa made the turn with two birdies.

"I was thinking of making one birdie before we made the turn but I made two birdies," said Ochoa with a big grin. Ochoa is in search of her first major-championship victory.

Park In Clubhouse, Holds Onto Lead

Southern Pines, N.C. – First-round leader Angela Park, 19, ended her round on a high note, saving par with a bending 20-foot putt on the ninth hole. Park began the round on the 10^th tee.

Never falling below third place, Park calmly scrambled back with consecutive birdies on the sixth and seventh holes before turning in a 5-under 137. For the most part she was accurate off the tee, hitting 11-of-14 fairways.

Prior to her seismic finish, Park on the previous hole needed to save par with a 9-footer. The ball lipped in. Park then hit a fade off the next tee, which landed in the rough.

Julieta Granada had bolted to the lead earlier in the round, but got overtaken by Park. Granada had a chance to pull even with Park but left a 12-foot birdie try short on the 15^th hole.

Amy Hung and Ji-Yai Shin completed their second rounds, positioning themselves near the top. Both were 3-under-par 139.

"This is like the best tournament in the world," said Hung. "You have to be patient."

Shin, 19, is playing in her first Women’s Open. However, she overcame tragedy, when as an amateur, she and her mother were involved in a car accident. Her mother didn’t survive.

"A little bit tired," said Shin through broken English when asked how she felt about her round. "Today I played good."

Park By Herself Again

Southern Pines, N.C. – Angela Park, riding the wave of back-to-back birdies found herself in the outright lead at 5 under par. Julieta Granada, whom she shared the lead with, had an opportunity to equal Park’s score but missed a 10-foot birdie attempt on the 13^th hole.

With Park’s birdie, the cut line moved to the top 60 only. The cut line can still change, however.

Wie Acknowledges Sore Wrist

Southern Pines, N.C. – Michelle Wie said she tweaked her wrist after she drove the ball on her seventh hole.

"I don’t remember hurting this much again," said Wie, who left the course 17 over par. "So definitely going to re-evaluate it and the last thing I want to do is withdraw, but it left me no choice."

Shortly after Wie spoke, first-round leader Angela Park climbed back atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the sixth hole. Julieta Granda, the co-leader, sank a 4-foot par putt to keep pace on the

Granada Holds Steady

Southern Pines, N.C. – From a collection area off the 11^th green, Julieta Granada massaged a chip close to the flagstick. She successfully completed the up and down, pumping her right fist as her 4-footer dropped in. She remained at 4 under, holding a one-stroke advantage on Amy Hung, Angela Park and Morgan Pressel, who birdied her 12^th hole. Pressel nearly birdied the par-3 13^th from 20 feet but she yanked the ball.

Shi Hyun Ahn missed a 4-footer for par on the 10^th hole to cap off back-to-back bogeys. It dropped her to 1 over par. The ball broke early causing a wry smile to color Ahn’s face.

Granada Takes Over First

Southern Pines, N.C. – Julieta Granada, changed positions with Angela Park atop the leaderboard after she birdied the ninth hole, her third consecutive birdie. While that was happening, Park bogeyed the 360-yard, par-4 fourth hole to drop to 3 under. Amy Hung also held strong at 3 under par.

The 20-year-old Granada, the 2004 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion, joined the LPGA Tour last year.

Wie Withdraws

Southern Pines, N.C. – Michelle Wie withdrew on the first hole, her 10^th of the round, Saturday due to a wrist injury. She made the turn shooting 17 over par. But it was on the 18^th that she grabbed her wrist after hitting out of the second cut of rough right of the fairway.

Granada Makes Move

Southern Pines, N.C. – Julieta Granada drained a 10-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole to move within a stroke of leader Angela Park, who was 4 under for the championship. Amy Hung also was one stroke away from Park while Morgan Pressel was 2 under total.

When Michelle Wie couldn’t successfully get up and down on No. 18, she absorbed the sixth bogey of her round. She made the turn 6-over-par 42 and was 17 over for the week, now in danger of missing the cut.

Park In Sole Possession Of First

Southern Pines, N.C. – Angela Park, with a birdie on her 10^th hole, moved to four under for the championship.

Michelle Wie, with five bogeys through her first eight holes, was looking at another one on the 18^th. She drove into the right rough then watched as her approach bounded into a left greenside bunker. Wie grabbed her left wrist before someone came on the course to attend to the injury. She got out of the bunker, her ball coming to a rest 8 feet from the hole.

After birdieing her 12^th hole, Amy Hung pitched to 4 feet of the flagstick on No. 13.

Pressel Pressures Park

Southern Pines, N.C. – Angela Park jumped back into the lead after Amy Hung absorbed a bogey on her 10^th hole Saturday. Morgan Pressel (birdie on No. 8) and Ji-Yai Shin were one shot behind.

Hung, Park Tied

Southern Pines, N.C. – Amy Hung birdied the eighth hole to grab a share of the lead with Angela Park Saturday. Both were three under par. Hung headed to the back nine with a 2-under 33 thus far in the round.

With three birdies on her first four holes, Australian Wendy Doolan (one under fgor the championship) progressed up the board. Morgan Pressel also improved to one under with a birdie on her fourth hole.

Park Stumbles

Southern Pines, N.C. – Angela Park carded just her second bogey of the championship when she failed to solve the 12^th hole, her third of the second round. She stood one stroke ahead of Amy Hung, who had completed five holes.

Park Birdies First Hole

Southern Pines, N.C. – First-round leader Angela Park, after only warming up Friday, finally began her second round on Saturday. Beginning on the 518-yard, par-5 10^th hole, Park registered a birdie to move to four under par. Park is a rookie on the LPGA Tour this season.

Amy Hung, who finished T-24^th in last year’s Women’s Open, grabbed sole possession of second with a birdie on the par-3 third hole. She was two under par for the championship.

Sorenstam Takes 2 Shots, Completes Round

Southern Pines, N.C. – Annika Sorenstam was standing on the ninth fairway, her final hole of the second round, Friday when the air horn to signify a delay went off. She needed just three shots to complete her 6-over 76 round with par Saturday morning. Now she’ll have to wait for the cut to be established, which won’t occur until this afternoon after posting 5-over 147 through both rounds.