Associated Press
Friday, October 20

MOBILE, Ala. -- Nancy Scranton used another dazzling iron display Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Karrie Webb in the AFLAC Champions.

Scranton shot a 3-under-par 69 for a 10-under 134 total on Magnolia Grove's Crossings Course. Webb, a six-time winner this year, charged up the leaderboard with a 67, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 16th hole.

"When I play well, my irons are the strength of my game," Scranton said. "I've felt real comfortable with my irons the last couple of days."

Webb, who needs one top-10 finish to clinch the LPGA player of the year award, has already wrapped up the money title and needs to win one of her final two tournaments to have a chance to become the first woman to win $2 million in a season.

"It all depends on the weather, but if we get two more days like the first two, this could be a shootout," said Webb.

Beth Daniel, Pat Hurst, Michele Redman and Barb Mucha were at 7-under, and Dottie Pepper and Sherri Steinhauer are 6-under. Pepper birdied four of the last six holes for a 67.

Scranton started the day with a one-stroke lead and promptly birdied the first hole, hitting a 6-iron within 8 feet of the pin for the first of her five birdies. Her other birdie putts came from 4 feet on No. 6, 8 feet on No. 8, 5 feet on No. 7 and -- her longest one in two days -- an 18-footer at the 15th.

"I keep saying it but the key out here is being on the right level of the green and so far I've been able to do that," Scranton said. "It's nice to have the lead but I'd like a bigger one."

Particularly with Webb chasing her.

Webb slipped down the leaderboard with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15, but she bounced right back with an eagle at No. 16 and birdie at No. 17 to jump into second place.

"I was actually pretty happy to make a bogey at No. 15," Webb said. "Even though I made two bogeys in a row I knew I still had three chances left and 16 was a birdie hole. I put a great swing on a 5-wood on 16 and made eagle and that was a big swing of momentum."

Webb's strong 5-wood shot ended up 6 feet from the pin, setting up that eagle. On the par-3 17th, she hit a 7-iron 4 feet from flag to get to 8-under.