Park takes over lead at mid point

South Korea's Grace Park shot a 4-under 68 today to take a one-stroke lead over Kristal Parker after the second round of the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic

Park, the 21-year-old former Arizona State star in her first season on the LPGA tour, had a 10-under 134 total on Wachesaw Plantation's East course.

Park, who started on No. 10, birdied eight of the first 12 holes to reach 14 under, but dropped four strokes with a double-bogey on No. 5 and consecutive bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8.

She was forced to take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie on No. 5 after her tee shot hit a tree and bounced into the woods on the 384-yard, par-4 hole.

``It was a skinny little tree that I hit and I never thought that it would go that far back,'' said Park, the 1998 U.S. Amateur champion. ``I'm over it and I wish it didn't happen, but it was just that one shot.

``It was not that bad, especially since I had so many good shots out there today in the beginning. I didn't let it get me down because that is golf and that's it.''

She had a 6-under 30 on the front nine.

``It was hot,'' Park said. ``I didn't really feel that good out there this morning and maybe that was good for me, but I was not really fatigued out there because you just have to drink plenty of water and I felt better at the end of the round.''

Parker, winless in six seasons on the tour, shot a bogey-free 66.

``I only hit nine greens, so I wasn't really hitting the ball great, but I did the best I could do,'' Parker said. ``I was very fortunate that my putter was feeling really good in my hands. It was a nice change to feel good with the putter today.

``It was pretty toasty out there and the air was really humid so it seemed the ball was not going quite as far. I had one of those sunbreallas so I was able to keep the sun off during my round and it felt about 10 degrees cooler out there.''

Cristie Kerr was two back after a 68. Michelle McGann, who shared the first-round lead with Park, shot a 71 to drop into a fourth-place tie at 137 with Juli Inkster (68), Pat Hurst (66), Sweden's Liselotte Neumann and Peru's Jenny Lidback (70).

Kerr was paired with Park.

``She was up about eight or nine shots, but I knew that there was still just so much golf to play,'' Kerr said. ``You can't look at Friday and think that things will stay the same until Sunday, there is just too much golf left.''

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