Ochoa Chasing Sorenstam At Michelob Ultra Open

Williamsburg, VA (AHN) -- Annika Sorenstam followed up her opening-round 64 with a 5-under 66 on Friday to take a three-shot lead over Lorena Ochoa after the second round of the Michelob Ultra Open. Sorenstam stands at 12-under as the two top players on the LPGA Tour went head-to-head. Sorenstam, Ochoa and defending champion Suzann Pettersen were grouped together in a battle normally not seen until Sundays. Ochoa, who has won five of her 10 tournaments this year, bogeyed the final hole for a 3-under 68 to finish deadlocked in second with Jeong Jang. Said Ochoa, "I'm right there, so I'm excited." Sorenstam, who has won twice this year, played bogey-free golf on the 6,315-yard River Course where she has never won. Meena Lee shot a 68 and was five shots behind Sorenstam. Kristy McPherson and Meredith Duncan both shot 68s to finish in a five-way deadlock at 6-under with Jimin Kang, Becky Morgan and Karen Stupples. Kang, Morgan and Stupples all shot 69s. The course wasn't kind to Michelle Wie, who was playing in her first tournament in 2 1/2 months. The Stanford freshman opened with a 4-over 75, then rebounded Friday with a 71 yet still missed the cut by four strokes. Said Wie, "I just feel really rusty. I feel like I just need to play more. I feel like I can get it back." Mhairi McKay, who tied the tournament record with an opening 63, followed with a 6-over 77.