Associated Press
Friday, September 29

NEW ALBANY, Ohio -- Defending champion Annika Sorenstam shot a 4-under 68 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the New Albany Golf Classic.

	Wendy Ward's wild round included six birdies and four bogeys.

Sorenstam's bogey-free round gave her six straight rounds in the 60s on the New Albany Country Club course.

"For some reason the course sets up really well for me -- the design of the holes, the lanes, just everything," Sorenstam said. "I told my caddie after the round that I wanted to keep going things are going so well."

Sorenstam, a five-time winner this year, is at 7-under 137. Wendy Ward (70), Dina Ammaccapane (70) and Shani Waugh (68) are a stroke back.

On Friday, Sorenstam's drives hit the fairways and her iron shots nestled close to the pins. She started the day with a 16-foot birdie putt on No. 10, then parred the next dozen holes.

Sorenstam, who won last year's inaugural tournament by three strokes with a 19-under total, said the course seems as forgiving as last year.

"I don't see any hazards here, I just see a big fairway and I just see a big green and that is what makes it so fun to go out and just swing at the flag," she said. "I even think I could have had a few shots less. That is how comfortable I feel out there."

After a birdie on the fifth hole, Sorenstam reached the green at the par-5 sixth hole in two shots and two-putted for birdie. She birdied the eighth hole after hitting a sand wedge within 4 feet.

Waugh said the thought of Sorenstam, who is second on the LPGA's career money list, feeling invincible when she plays in New Albany bothers her.

"It's scary for us if she thinks like that," she said.

After making birdie on 18 to go to 6-under, Waugh still likes her chances.

"I have had some luck today. I chipped in and holed a putt from the back edge of the green," she said. "So I think so far things have been going my way."

Ammaccapane, who opened with a 68 on Monday, birdied four of her first eight holes, but fell back on the back nine.

Ward also started out strong with four birdies and was 8-under at the turn, but she bogeyed her last hole after hitting her drive in the rough.

First-round leader Susie Redman also was tied for the lead with Sorenstam at 7-under with one hole left. But she ended up with a double-bogey after taking two attempts to get out of a bunker on the par-4 ninth hole. She shot a 72 to join Donna Andrews, Brandie Burton and Beth Daniel at 5-under.

"I just tried to get too cute with the chip and I left it in the bunker," said Redman, who is chasing her first LPGA victory in 15 years on tour.

Karrie Webb, seeking her seventh win of the year, shot a 70 after opening with a 76.