Associated Press
Friday, August 11

AYLMER, Quebec -- Annika Sorenstam shot her second straight 3-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Lorie Kane after the second round of the du Maurier Classic.

	Lorie Kane had the day's best round -- a 67 -- to get within one of the lead.

Two strokes behind Sorenstam were Laura Philo, tour rookie Diana D'Alessio and Juli Inkster, who shot a 68 to again move into contention in an LPGA major championship. One stroke behind that group was Meg Mallon, also a fixture on major leaderboards.

Sorenstam made four birdies and only one bogey, hit 16 greens in regulation and stayed out of trouble on the 6,403-yard Royal Ottawa Golf Club course. She is seeking her sixth LPGA title of 2000 and trying to end a drought in major championships following consecutive U.S. Open victories in 1995 and 1996.

Sorenstam complained of nerves in the earlier rounds of major championships but has looked in command of her game and her confidence in the first two rounds of the du Maurier.

"I never was in trouble, which is fun," she said. "And it kind of makes you comfortable out there."

Kane is Canada's sentimental favorite at the du Maurier, which is losing its sponsorship by the Imperial Tobacco company after this year due to cigarette advertising limitations in Canada. Its status as an LPGA major is almost certainly lost, and so far no entity has stepped forward to take over as sponsor of the only Canadian stop on tour.

Kane's fans cheered her every swing, and hundreds were already on hand to follow her as she started her early morning tee time. Playing the back nine first on a cloudy, windless day, Kane made birdies at Nos. 13, 16, 18 and 1 and even more fans flocked to her group.

Kane made her only mistake at No. 3 by missing the green on the par 4 when she hit her approach shot fat, but she birdied No. 5 by holing out a 25-foot bunker shot and No. 6 with a 6-foot putt. She finished with a 67, the best round of the day.

"I don't think I've ever felt this confident and calm," the Prince Edward Island native said. "I know what I want to do and I'm doing it."

D'Alessio, the 25-year-old rookie who made only her fifth cut in 13 lifetime tour events, had a 73 Friday in which she seemed to constantly be in trouble. She led Sorenstam and four others by two strokes after her opening-round 67.

D'Alessio had it to 6-under twice Friday, the latter time when she rolled in a 15-foot putt for birdie at the par-3 12th.

But she pulled her drive on No. 13 into deep rough for one bogey and had a 3-foot par putt go around the hole and out on the 17th hole to fall back to 4-under.

Karrie Webb, chasing a $1 million bonus from Nabisco if she can win her third major tournament of the year, shot a 72 for a 143 total. She made a costly double-bogey on the par-3 second hole after hitting into trees off the tee with a 4-iron.

"I haven't shot myself in the foot, but I would like to be a few more under," Webb said.

The winner of the other major title this year, Inkster at the LPGA Championship, had a 68 that could have been better. She hit her second shot into the rough on the par-5 18th -- for many players a birdie hole Friday -- and three putted for bogey.

"That doesn't leave a very good taste in my mouth," she said.

But Inkster, who has won three of the last six major women's championships, said she was happy to be near the top again.

"I try to just position myself in these things for Sunday and hopefully make a good run for it," she said.

Philo, a Scotia, N.Y., native who went to Wake Forest, shot a 69. Only in her second year on the LPGA Tour, Philo came close to winning two weeks ago in Youngstown, Ohio, before a double-bogey on the last hole.

"I saw it (victory) flash before my eyes, and I'm ready to not see it flash anymore, for it to be real," Philo said. "I think it's right there."

Se Ri Pak, one of those tied for second after Thursday's opening round, took 33 putts Friday and shot a 76.