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Stanford leads with 67
Angela Stanford shot a 4-under-par 67 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into
the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, with Annika Sörenstam four
shots back.
Stanford, who came into the day sharing the lead with two others, used solid
iron play and putting to card five birdies en route to a two-day total of 132.
Four players were bunched up one shot behind her, including two-time Classic
champ Juli Inkster, while 13-year-old Michelle Wie was 11 strokes back after a
72.
Sörenstam, the Tour's No. 1 player and the defending champion, roared
back into contention after a lackluster opening round, shooting a 66.
Stanford, who shared the opening round lead with Laura Diaz and Kris Lindstrom,
is in contention for a win for the first time since she joined the Tour in 2000.
The 25-year-old from Saginaw, Texas, holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4,
345-yard first hole while playing partners Diaz and Lindstrom bogeyed it, setting
the stage for her round.
Stanford's only blemish was a bogey on the 187-yard 11th, when she missed a
15-footer for par. But she finished with a flourish, birdieing two of the last
three holes, including a 15-foot putt on No. 18.
She came away thrilled to be in contention heading into the final day Sunday.
"I'm excited because I believe you learn how to win, at any level,"
Stanford said. "So, I think I get to learn a lot tomorrow. I get to learn
what it's like to be in the final group. I've never been in the final group on
Sunday."
Sörenstam, who has won three Tour events this year, shot a 70 in the opening
round, saying later a new, livelier ball had given her trouble. But she birdied
two of her first three holes Saturday and was poised to make a run at the championship
Sunday.
Inkster, for one, wasn't ready to count her out.
"I'm always worried about Annika. She's a great player and you always
hope in the back of your mind that she stays off the leaderboard," said Inkster,
who was one stroke back along with Michele Redman, Diana D'Alessio and Becky Morgan.
Wie, the lanky schoolgirl who won the U.S. Amateur Woman's Public Links last
weekend, made the cut by a stroke. She continued to struggle with her putting,
lipping the cup or narrowly missing several birdie opportunities.
On the 114-yard 13th, her tee shot landed in a sand trap and she recovered
nicely, hitting a sand wedge from 25 feet that nearly went in. But then she missed
a 3-foot putt and took a bogey.
"I feel frustrated and bummed out that I didn't play better," said
Wie, who shot par in the opening round.
She had clashed over club choices with caddie B.J. Wie -- her father -- in
Friday's opening round. On Saturday, she was asked if they got along better. "Yeah,
I guess. Sometimes," she replied.
The low round of the day came from Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who fired an 8-under
63, tying a tournament record.
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