Pak's lead cut to three

Se Ri Pak's toughest competition in the second round of the Nine Bridges Classic was the weather.

Pak missed a chance to run away with the LPGA event, shooting a 4-over-par 76 in windy conditions Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round.

The South Korean star, coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Tournament of Champions, was the only player under par after two rounds. She had a 3-under 141 total.

Pak had a double bogey, three bogeys and just one birdie a day after shooting a 65 in calm conditions on The Club at Nine Bridges course.

"It was so difficult out there," Pak said. "It was very cold. The wind was so strong. I knew it was going to be a tough day today, with the weather so windy and cold, but when I actually played the round, it was even worse than I expected.

"I'm very unhappy. I thought an even-par round would be good in such windy conditions, and for tomorrow, it's the same."

South Korea's Grace Park, a two-time winner in three full seasons on the LPGA Tour, was the only player to break par Saturday, shooting a 71 to jump from a tie for 22nd to second.

"I told my caddie that it felt like I shot 64 out there," Park said. "Yesterday, I think I had a little bit of an alignment problem with my putting, but I got that straightened out, so that was very, very good for today."

Mi Hyun Kim, another South Korean player who has won twice this year, shot a 75 to join Canada's Lorie Kane (75), Scotland's Mhairi McKay (75) and Jackie Gallagher-Smith (76) at 1 over.

Annika Sorenstam, seeking her 10th LPGA Tour title of the year and 12th worldwide title, was five strokes back at 2 over after her second straight 73.

"It was very cold and windy," Sorenstam said. "It was one of the toughest conditions I played in a really long time."

The Swede needs to win the final four events of the season to tie the tour record of 13 victories set by Mickey Wright in 1963.

Sweden's Carin Koch, expecting her second child in April, also was 2 over along with Danielle Ammaccapane. Koch shot a 76, and Ammaccapane had a 74.

Pak is seeking her fifth victory of the year and 18th in five full seasons on the LPGA Tour.

Four strokes ahead of Cristie Kerr and Gallagher-Smith after the first round, Pak played the first six holes in even par - offsetting a bogey on the par-5 third hole with a birdie on No. 5.

She bogeyed No. 7, had a double bogey on No. 14 and fell to 3 under with a bogey on the 18th, another par-5 hole.

Kerr followed her opening 69 with an 85 to drop into a tie for 40th at 10 over. She was 7 over on the first four holes, with a triple bogey on No. 3 and two double bogeys.

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